Quite often, I will be in the middle of explaining something that I found was either hilariously funny or awesome or maybe even both that happened earlier that day, and the person will start off with a look of interest, maybe even a smile. However, about 30 seconds in, especially if I’m laughing really hard while telling it and subsequently struggling to get the words out in a somewhat coherent manner, their face changes to a bit of a confused frown and they ask, “Why are you telling me all this?” Sometimes it’s accompanied by, That’s not funny.
I finally realize what they’re telling me. Now, the smile will, at this point, often slide right off my face and be replaced with a confused look of hurt. If I’m not done yet, I will still try to stagger on even to the imminent end of the tale (shortening it up quite a bit) though the person has made it clear that they don’t want to listen anymore: I simply assure them that it will get better near the end. If I do press on, often the joke is not received. If I don’t, then that means that I’ve already obviously given up and the situation is hopeless. No chance of telling them, because it’s not like they’re going to understand, anyway. I simply say:
“Well, I guess you just kind of had to be there…. I’m sorry.” And then I huddle there underneath their gaze, full of shame and convinced that they must be thinking, What an idiot! She obviously has no idea of what funny is….
So, after explaining for a little while, they finally ask me, “What is the point?” or something to the effect of what I explained above, if I’m really trying, really hard, that day, then I can somehow manage not to look completely crushed by their statement.
Almost.
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