Andrew J. Lederer

we had to go down to the pancake house if we wanted pancakes. Now, you can make' em at home."

That's a funny joke, isn't it?

Elise says it has the shape of a joke but isn't 'cause it makes no sense. I say that's why it's funny -- 'cause there are things you couldn't do before technology that now you can but making pancakes isn't one of 'em.

Of course, her joke assessment came right after she bought me fried rice at a Thai place so she wouldn't sit eating alone while I sat smelling of poverty. Meanwhile, I felt the Orientalized grain was both an extravagance and an insult, a sentiment she deemed ungrateful.

Still, we got through the pain, even after my failed attempts to compare myself to both air and a dog.

Then on the walk back from the Thai place, she waxed nonsensical about the metalwork on the houses looking like funerals and she was funny.

Which proves that my original joke was good.