In the midst of sorrow, we find something to giggle over. In
frustration, impatience sets up absurd happenings, and then laughter. A comedian
stands alone on stage and speaks; we listen. He tells a tale, draws us in, then
delivers a line that is absurd but recognizable. And we laugh.
I’ve observed this many times; so have you. It is the kernel
of absurd that makes us laugh. Absurd is truth or reality taken too far and we
see our weakness in stark relief flash before us; that sets us up for a release of tension. We laugh to do that.
The good, bad and ugly of life is the reality. Laughter is
the tension breaker. We seek it; hunger for it.
Counseling a homeless person provides insight. He dislikes
where he is; it is small, gloomy and crowded with people he doesn’t know. He judges
them inferior to himself. He is better than this, than what? Than homelessness.
How did he get here? What led him to this?
Not his fault. Of course. People didn’t value him. Family didn’t
help when they could. They let him down. It’s their fault he ended up here.
We press for a positive he can latch onto; follow that toward
a job. He diverts the conversation to the food provided, the one shower for 40
guys; the unsavory people surrounding him; all losers. Except for him.
The positive is elusive while others engage him to discuss
his points of discomfort. They don’t hold him to seeking a job; what type of
work could he do right away? What would be a stepping stone job to something
better? Does he have any ideas to think about along these lines?
No. I have to protect my stuff, he says. Someone could steal
it. These guys don’t like you. They plant weed or worse in your drawer near
your bed; then report you and you are arrested and put in jail. They do it all
the time.
No positive. No forward thinking or ideas. Just commentary
on the present. Resentment for the past.
The absurdity of his circumstances does not yield to
laughter. How to trigger this? That becomes my target. It doesn’t come. The others
trying to help keep allowing the discussion to return to the lowly conditions.
This frustrates me and I announce my leaving. The others in
the room are dependent on my ride so they get up to leave. They ask to take
them to their home for the rest of the day. They will hire an Uber car to
return him to the shelter. He doesn’t want to go but he doesn’t want to go back
to the shelter either. Their discussion at their home will most likely lead them
nowhere to a solution.
We leave together. I drive them to their apartment. I wave
as I drop them off and leave for my own home. Empty. Unresolved. Fathomless,
them and me.
But I’m only the driver. Free, not an Uber. But someone who
cares and yearns for laughter in this situation. None comes.
Bummer.
October 29, 2018
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