Have I mentioned before that TJ has a terrific sense of humor? He loves to laugh and he loves to make people laugh. TJ loves to start a conversation with you using one of his “voices.” When you least expect it, he will suddenly be a salesman, with an Indian accent, selling you dishwashing detergent. Sometimes when things are a bit too quiet, he’ll become Arnold Schwarzenegger discussing with you what kind of car you should purchase.
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| Just another day with TJ! |
Probably my all time favorite “TJ’s humor stories” was when he answered a friend’s phone in just his normal voice and fooled the true salesman on the other end of the line that he, TJ, really was the owner of the home. As the salesman asked each of his questions, TJ found ways to answer honestly but without revealing that he was simply a friend of the family and not really “the man of the household.” He talked with the salesman about how the teenage daughter of the home was always on the phone with her friends, which was true. He went on to say how difficult this was to deal with her being on the phone so much and then asked the caller, “Do you have teenagers? Can you relate to what I’m talking about?” The salesman said he had just the plan for them!
When asked if they ever called long distance, TJ mentioned that they had relatives that lived in Florida and how those calls could go on for quite a long time. The salesman jumped on that and said he had a plan that would include unlimited long distance and would meet their needs. I don’t remember what the exact question from the salesman was, but TJ was finally not able to answer honestly without getting caught in his charades. There was a long pause from the salesman, and then he asked, “You’re really not Mr. ‘Smith,’ are you?” With a chuckle in his voice TJ replied, “No, I’m not.” “Are you eighteen?” “No, I’m not.” Finally the salesman, realizing how well he had been duped by TJ, started to laugh over the whole thing. TJ told the man that he was just a friend of the family and that Mr. “Smith” wasn’t home – but probably would not be interested in the phone plan anyway. I can still see TJ’s face as he related the story to us. He was grinning from ear to ear, loving the whole spoof, and just a bit proud of himself for fooling a very gullible salesman!
TJ’s humor is often simple but very, very funny. And, most of the time, it is well-timed. Just when you need a good laugh or need to have the tension of a rough situation broken, there is TJ with a one-liner, a goofy twist or perspective on whatever is happening, or just a silly response in one of his many voices. Sometimes you don’t want to laugh, and the harder you try to hold it back, the more he will bring it on. He always sees right through you at those moments, and that just encourages him to keep pushing the silliness.
Today TJ posted a video of some soldiers taking a break and having a little bit of fun with a goat. I don’t know if these are troops that TJ serves with in Kuwait. I don’t even know if this event happened in Kuwait. But, I do know that it is exactly the kind of thing that TJ would get involved in if he was around, and he would certainly enjoy the silliness and fun of the moment. (The video is attached below so that you can laugh along with him).
We miss TJ tremendously. When we experience things and times that just seem overwhelming to us, it is often these memories of his silliness that help pull us through. We will say to each other, “remember when TJ did …whatever?” Or, “remember how TJ would say …such-and-such?” And as our thoughts race back to those fun times, in our minds we hear his voice(s) and we see the twinkle in his eyes and the mischievous smile on his face, and, just as if he were here, we begin to laugh once again.
When I think of him being so far away, serving in Kuwait, and I combine that thought with these precious memories, I wonder, which service of his is being more effective? The one where he stands guard at the main gate, checking for bombs underneath incoming vehicles? Or is it the service of laughter that he brings to his fellow soldiers, using that gift of his to break tense moments, or to cheer someone up who is having a bad day?
I love this one-liner from the Old Testament Book of Proverbs, “Laughter does good, like medicine.” TJ has not only been gifted with a great sense of humor and an ability to make others laugh, but he also has the ability to administer it at just the right moment when it can do the most good - just like medicine.
Thank you for keeping us healthy, TJ! We love you, Pal!
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