Some
people can tell a joke at parties. I can't. I suppose that is one
reason I am not a professional comedian. My daddy was a sociable
funny person in his own reserved way, and he had a kind of country
wit that everyone around him appreciated. He had lots of stories,
some of them gathered from his legal practice either from his own
cases or those of his associates. His stories were about the foibles
of human nature at all levels of society, education or wealth. Lawyer
stories are usually didactic and are not received as outright comic
gems at parties.
Anecdotes
are a joke variation which can be funny and are supposedly
reality-based. We get an earful of those at many social functions
throughout the year. Often the degree of pleasantry is directly
proportional to the quantity of alcohol consumed. This humor quotient
or ratio is practically a rule of nature. Alcohol as a social
lubricant has become essential nowadays to sustain a level of jollity
which current world events can easily diminish in a dull moment. Both
the listener and speaker are involved in this delicate choreography
of distraction. The storyteller is usually relating something that
happened to him or that he witnessed, and with a hilarious fillip at
the end, sends every nearby listener into paroxysms of explosive
laughter. But what do you do when the effort falls flat? If you are
carrying a fan you can hide behind it, rustle it vigorously and
titter amiably before moving on to the next topic. Sadly, personal
fans are not carried often except on certain Asian occasions.
In
many cases the suspension of reality during the failed anecdote has
been so complete that the shocking return to the present is met with
dumb silence and shifting postures. Be prepared. During the
recounting of the awful tale, let your mind wander to some clever
associative remark, “My brother is just like that!” or “I've
never heard of anything quite like it!” or “Where do you come up
with these stories?” or “Oh well, what can you do?” Avoid
putting the raconteur in an awkward position at all costs as this
will only accentuate any discomfort occasioned by the defective
effort. Make no reference to over consumption of beverages as this
tends to broadly insult the speaker's social capabilities even though
it may be an accurate observation. Make no general observations such
as “Insurance sales is a racket like that” or “All car
mechanics are crooked,” since one of their number in that field may
be present. “Have you tried the paté?”
is a reliable dodge with the specific plate (cheese board, kale salad
or vichysoisse, etc.) substituted where appropriate. Everyone in the
circle of hearing will be relieved that someone has taken the lead to
extricate the group from awkwardness, no matter that it may seem to
be an abrupt segue. I say any life saver is fine in an emergency.
Parties
are not meant for introspection. They are meant for convivial sharing
and by making allowances for human frailty your part can only be
enhanced. If you don't want to participate, find the host's library
and open a book, but you and everyone else are best served if you
march with good will in this occasional parade as a healthy
deflection from ordinary reality.
Many more kisses,
Celeste
