Close to Home by John McPherson for November 18, 2008

I wonder what the torture was. Mine would be listening to Lawrence Welk.

Before she was married and changed her name, the students used to say they’d been to Helen Bach.

DigitalFrog, you are the punster extradinaire.

Hate to ruin DigitalFrog’s joke, but it’s not all that new. My great-uncle had a gas station back in the 60s and 70s that didn’t take credit. He had a sign there that said “Our credit manager’s name is Helen Wait. If you want credit, go to Helen Wait.”

Never said it was new, just thought it was appropriate.

The best version I’ve come across is a basketweaving shop in Helena, MT called Helena Handbaskets.

Before he ran for governor of California, Arnold Schwarzeneggger taught an acting workshop. In class one day, he said, “We will now improvise a short drama based on the characters of classical composers whose names begin with ‘B’.”

He pointed at one student and said, “You. You will be Brahms.”

He pointed at another student and said, “You. You will be Beethoven.”

He tapped his chest and said, “And me, I’ll be Bach.”

Runar, that was good. It made me laugh.