Thursday, October 30, 2008

A Roof Makes a House Better

I got a roof on our house today. It is not the finished roof, but it is now covered with plywood, glued and screwed, with a complete layer of peel-and-stick ice guard. We are, as the term implies, “dried in.”

Living with tarps for a roof does have its advantages. The quality of light in the house has been amazing. Its like having one giant sun roof. Yes, as the term implies, a “sun roof”.

I tried to tell Joseph that I want to take the roof back off because it is too dark in the house now, and there is no breeze. This led to a 15 minute discussion of the idea of “joking.”

How do you explain the word “joke.” It really is a concept, not a word. And it is a concept that does not necessarily translate culturally.

“Joseph, why did the chicken cross the road?”

“Chicken cross?” “What means 'chicken cross'?”

Ok, I have him turn around so I can tap him on the opposite shoulder. This only really works with more than two people. And it is complicated by the fact that in the high school here the joke would be that when you turned around I hit you on the head with a rock. Now, thats funny.

Ok, “funny” did it. Evidently most people understand the concept of “funny.”

“Yes, Joseph, I am funny. I am very funny all the time but you never laugh.” How many times in my life must I explain this to people.

“I am 'joking,' making a 'joke,'” I say. “When I say we should take the roof off, you are suppose to say no.”

“No, I think a roof makes a house better.”

I could not agree more.

No comments: