I know that it's almost Father's Day, and one would think our little visit this week would be some kind of tribute to my dad. Well, after writing numerous columns about my dad already, it gets a little tough to say something new; or even say something old in a new way. Truth be told, this column is a bit of a tribute to my dad, in a sort of round about way.
Those of you who remember my dad, or knew him well, probably remember he had a razor-sharp wit. I remember some of my most entertaining moments were spent trading quips and barbs with him. A good friend of my dad's called it “mental gymnastics” or “mental karate.” If you were going to participate in such an activity with Pat Patrick, you had better be on your toes. I think that's how I developed much of my “wit.” I practice it on a regular basis here at work, sometimes to the great dismay of my co-workers. I figure if I can make them laugh at least a couple of times a day, then the day was not a total waste, no matter what else happens.
We have a kid working with us here at the paper this summer. I won't mention her name, but I'm sure many of you know her. Let me start off by saying, she's a really good kid. I know she'll probably see this and it is not my intention to embarrass her in any way. This young person was asking me a question about the proper way to give photo credit for a photo taken from a social media site. I asked if it was a photo of a particular person. Her response was, “No, I just picked a random photo of someone.”
This brought instant laughter from everyone here. I even laughed. (I can appreciate talent when I encounter it, even when it's aimed at me.) At first, I was stunned. Rarely had I ever experienced such a skillfully placed and effortlessly delivered “zinger!” A moment after the shock wore off, I told this young pupil how proud of her I was, but she shouldn't be making a habit of such things. She responded with, “I can't make any promises.”
That makes two! Two sharp witticisms aimed at me, each hitting their mark with pin-point accuracy. Could it be that my wits have met their match? Have I finally been blessed with a worthy adversary? It is a good thing that I learned so much from the “Grand Master,” Pat Patrick. It may be a long summer … let the fun begin!