Self-Referential Humor

Hello, you have A Way with Words.

Yes, this is Robbie from Odessa, Texas.

Well, hi, Robbie. Welcome to the program.

Well, thank you. Thank you for having me.

Our pleasure. What can we do for you?

I have an expression that I have heard a lifelong friend of mine use ever since I’ve known her.

And the expression is, I feel more like I do now than I did a while ago.

Meaning, usually like after a meal or something like that, you know, that you’re improved.

But I’ve never, ever heard that anywhere else.

I’ve never heard anyone else say this.

I’ve never read it anywhere.

I just think it’s an interesting phrase.

I love it.

I love it.

Give it to us one more time.

So you’ve just finished a great meal and you say…

Yeah, I feel more like I do now than I did a while ago.

I love that.

And how long has your friend been saying this?

Oh, well, I’ve known her for over 30 years, and she’s been saying it ever since I’ve known her.

Okay.

There we go.

I did ask her about it at one time, and she said she heard a family friend say that as a child,

So she grew up hearing that, and it became a common expression in their family,

And it’s almost become like that in our family because it is so descriptive of many events.

-huh. You picked it up.

So when do you like to use it?

Well, usually after a great meal or when you get to your destination,

If you’ve been on a trip or something like that,

Anything that expresses an improvement over the condition that you were in prior.

Oh, that’s like the apartments I used to drive past that had a sign that said,

If you lived here, you’d be home now.

Oh, yes. Yes, I’ve seen that too.

It kind of makes you wish that you were there, doesn’t it?

Yeah, great advertising.

The Buckaroo Banzai quote, wherever you go, there you are.

Oh, yes. Yes, I’m familiar with that, too.

You know, Martha, I’ve done some digging on this in the past.

The earliest use I found out this is in 1952,

And there’s almost always a story or a joke attached to it.

Do you know it?

I don’t.

I’ll tell you the version that was in the Chicago Tribune in 1954.

Okay.

And they say that a Washington senator told a story of the man who arrived

At what he expected to be a boring dinner.

He fortified himself with a couple of stiff drinks, then two more, and finally another pair.

When he was called on at the dinner, the man arose gravely and announced,

I feel more like I do now than I did when I came in.

So it’s a slightly different version, but it’s more or less the same thing.

Most of the times this story is told, it’s connected to somebody drinking.

That is interesting. I’ve never heard the joke. I’ve never heard any reference to it.

And like I say, nor have I ever read anything that was similar.

But those accounts that you just told me, that is a very, very similar version.

Yeah, it’s interesting.

So we know that this story is, what, about 60 years old at least.

So it’s got a little bit of history.

I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s much older than that.

If I had some joke books from the 30s and 40s, I bet I’d find it in there.

A little vintage.

No, but none the worse for wear.

Well, that is very interesting.

I appreciate your help with that.

That really puts a little bit different spin on it for me.

Oh, but it’s a nice one to keep using that.

Yeah, I kind of like it.

I probably will.

It’s part of my regular language.

Yeah, I kind of like the idea of using it without the whole drinking thing involved.

I think it’s just funny in and of itself.

Well, I think it is, too, because not knowing that that’s how it was connected,

I’m not familiar with that part of it, but it is a very expressive phrase.

Oh, I love it.

It reminds me of people who stand up to give a speech, and they say,

Before I begin speaking, I’d like to say something.

What?

Yes.

You’re already speaking, dude.

Let me have your attention before you doze off.

Exactly.

Well, Robbie, thank you so much for calling.

This is fun.

Well, thank you.

I appreciate the time.

Our pleasure.

Thank you, Robbie.

Okay.

Bye-bye.

Bye-bye.

Take care.

That’s great.

I had no idea about those stories.

That’s a winner.

That’s a winner.

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