Bulletin Board

Posted: Monday, April 15, 2002

This being tax day, some of you may benefit from Gene Parker's tale of optimism and never giving up:

An 80-year-old man went to the doctor for a checkup. He was in great shape, and the doctor asked to what he attributed his good health.

"I'm a turkey hunter," the man explained. "I'm up well before daylight and out chasing turkeys up and down the mountains."

"Well, I'm sure that helps," the doctor said, "but there has to be more to it. How old was your dad when he died?"

"Who said my dad's dead?" the patient demanded. "He's 100 years old and, in fact, he hunted turkey with me this morning and that's why he's still alive. He's a turkey hunter, too."

"Well, that's great," said the doctor, "but I'm still sure there's more to it. How about your dad's dad? How old was he when he died?"

Again the patient responded, "Who said my grandpa's dead?"

"Wait a minute," the doctor said. "You mean you're 80 years old and your grandfather is still living? How old is he?"

"He's 118," the patient replied.

The doctor, somewhat frustrated, said "And I guess he went turkey hunting with you this morning, too?"

"No," the old man replied. "Grandpa couldn't go this morning because he got married."

The doctor, by now totally amazed, exclaimed, "Why would a 118-year-old guy want to get married!"

And the patient replied, "Who said he wanted to?"

Cathy Martindale

Executive Editor