PurpAnd

I tend to think of myself as a pretty sarcastic person. I think much of my sense of humor is rooted in sarcasm. Fortunately for me, most of the people who know me understand this.

I’ve learned, over the years, to dial my sarcasm down in more sensitive scenarios. For example, sitting in my bosses office for my annual review was not the time for me to dryly mention how much fun it was to be berated with a seemingly endless list of my professional, and a few personal, faults.

I’ve also recognized that being sarcastic with someone I just met is usually not very well received. I can’t count the number of times I’ve jumped enthusiastically into a conversation only to be met with a blank stare 60 seconds later. Too often I’ve had to rescue myself by recoiling, explaining I was being sarcastic.

My favorite victims of my sarcasm are usually the ones who ‘get it.’ These people include my wife, my sister, and my mom. I have a few close friends too that get it more than others. One in particular, Joe, pretty much cracks up at everything I say and it encourages me more. Lately, I’ve been on this string of insulting telephone greetings. I’ll call him and when he picks up I’ll say something like, “If you were my son, I’d ask for my money back.” Or, “if you were my next door neighbor, I’d keep the terrorist watch hotline on my speed dial.” Gentle things like that.

My sister has a similar sense of humor. We get along great because of it, but sometimes when we are together we get the same confused look from people. She and I can dish it back and forth and will occasionally get carried away… thankfully, her fiance hasn’t been turned away by this.

In writing this post, I’ve found it difficult to adequately convey just how sarcastic I can be. For that, I am sorry. But look on the bright side, you get to look forward to the time when we meet in person… You know, at one of my book signings or when I come through your town as a lion tamer with the circus.