People often say to me, "Joe, you're an incredibly funny and talented individual. Where do you get the ideas for your columns?"  This usually happens at places like Albertson’s or the Valley Cleaners and I must admit that it’s kind of a kick to be recognized.  Though I’m sure that all to soon the time will come when I’ll simply say, “Yea that’s great.  I’m glad you like it.  Now if you’ll be so kind as to ring up my freshly starched skivvies, I’ll be on my way.”  But that day is weeks away.

But allow me to address this comment/question in two parts. First, yes I am a very funny and talented individual and it's good of you to notice.  Your praise is much appreciated.  I will not forget you and will do my best not to step on your fingers as I ascend the ladder of fame and fortune.  If, by chance, I do happen to crush you with the weak and infirm, my apologies in advance.

I attribute my sense of humor, at least in part, to genetics.  To BE funny one must first be able to APPRECIATE humor.  My dad loves a good joke but ask him to repeat it and you may as well ask him to give up good food and wine for the rest of his life.  In fact, watching him attempt to tell a joke is usually much funnier than the joke itself.  While my father may be a funny and talented individual in his own right, he was never able to HARNESS the humor and creativity nor did he have an outlet through which to channel it. You know how some comedians, if not well known and successful would probably be institutionalized?  It's somewhat along those same lines. I say this with all due respect.

My mother, on the other hand, has channeled her love of humor into poetry.  Most of her poems have focused on the people and happenings of the Clayton Police Dept. where she worked for 28 years.  Believe me, this was not an easy task.  If you think so, I challenge you to try and find rhymes for “domestic disturbance”, “flasher”,  “wrongful incarceration” and “Andy Griffith”.

Humor is very subjective.  What I find funny you, in most cases, might find distasteful or stupid. Probably both.  I make no apologies for this.  We all have our own way of looking at this cockeyed world.  Perhaps mine is a wee more cockeyed than yours and for this we have medication.

As far as where I come up with the ideas for my columns I suppose the most accurate answer would be—hell if I know?  I have no idea when something might suddenly present itself as a good column topic.  One would think that certain situations, holidays for example, would naturally lend themselves to ideas, and while this is sometimes the case, more often than not I find that these are the times when inspiration fails.  On the other hand, my wife's purchase of a new toaster got me to thinking (OK, so I like toast) and the result of my musing was a column. Again, please refer back to my comment about medication.

Children are an obvious source of inspiration.  In fact my desire to write a column was one of the main reasons I decided to have children in the first place.  Life, while quite enjoyable before parenthood, seemed to be lacking that comedic spark.  We now are able to enjoy the antics of our very own comedy troupe and suddenly life is a plethora of inspiration.  Throw into the mix the cast of characters that make up my “in-laws” and you have the makings of a life’s worth of columns. 

If, however, inspiration ever fails to strike I can always go off my medication.