Wednesday, December 21, 2011

THE GENERAL JOKE

"There are certain queer times and occasions in this strange mixed affair we call life when a man takes this whole universe for a vast practical joke, though the wit thereof he but dimly discerns, and more than suspects that the joke is at nobody’s expense but his own. However, nothing dispirits, and nothing seems worth while disputing. He bolts down all events, all creeds, and beliefs, and persuasions, all hard things visible and invisible, never mind how knobby; as an ostrich of potent digestion gobbles down bullets and gun flints. And as for small difficulties and worryings, prospects of sudden disaster, peril of life and limb; all these, and death itself, seem to him only sly, good-natured hits, and jolly punches in the side bestowed by the unseen and unaccountable old joker. That odd sort of wayward mood I am speaking of, comes over a man only in some time of extreme tribulation; it comes in the very midst of his earnestness, so that what just before might have seemed to him a thing most momentous, now seems but a part of the general joke."
Herman Melville, Moby Dick

Christmas must surely be part of the general joke.
It is for me.

3 comments:

red dirt girl said...

bah-humbug. If it weren't for the kids, I'd skip it. But my son came home from college and bought me a fake tree, lights etc. Then he made me get out of bed and go downstairs and help decorate the tree. And you know, it was ok. Not half as bad as I thought it would be.

Now, let's see who will take it all down after Christmas .....!

xxx

Kim said...

I don't partake in the festivities either, especially since that eliminates the putting away of Christmas Crap after its over. We do celebrate with Kalifornia Krismas. We all gather at the old Italian Inn basement and exchange white elephant gifts. Its our way of nodding at the great cosmic joke Christmas is

bulletholes said...

I got one beats bah-Humbug.
"Fa-la-la-la blow me." Thats my Christmas cheer!

Kim. is the old Italian inn still there? Wow!