Because you never get a second chance to make a first impression...
Kirstin and I enjoy comedy........especially the stand-up variety. We find it remarkable that a guy who can make 400 people laugh hysterically for an hour is generally so poor, he sells CDs after his act at the Improv while someone who can dunk a basketball generally drives a Ferrari. The invisible hand at work, obviously.
Anyway, there are no comedy clubs here in the Caribbean (at least we haven't found one), so we need to make our own fun. One aspect of being a cruiser affords us great comedy potential in this area; first impressions. Cruisers seem to recognize each other instinctively and want to find out about you. I guess living on a small boat (sometimes alone) makes you want human contact all the more.
Anyway, almost without exception- the first question anyone asks is what is/was your job before you began life on a boat. This is where the fun begins. Whatever comes out of your mouth will shape the way they think about you..........the way they fill in all the blanks that they don't know about you. We all do it.............a lawyer has certain traits..........a doctor others.
The other day, an unsuspecting cruiser walked right into our comedic trap.
"So, Tom........what did you do back in DC ?"
"Oh, I had a boring job......you probably don't want to know" (this is what us pros call "the tease")
"No, really........what did you do ?"
"I'm a PHD in early childhood development. I developed a test that can be used soon after child birth to assess a baby's intelligence- a combination of DNA and reflex/response factors. My clients are wealthy moms. They make decisions on whether or not to give the kid up for adoption based on the results of the test. It's funny..........a lot of parents who think they're getting Eastern European babies are actually getting low achievers from Long Island".
Now a horrified look from my "pidgeon". Kirstin was doing a great job with her straight face........as if to say "What's wrong ?"
His first response............"So women do this ?"
"Yeah........you'd be surprised at the wait list."
His next question..........."Does the test work ?"
"We think so, er......um.......I mean, well, do you know how much clinical trials cost ?...........Of course by the time we test this thing fully I'll be on to my next start-up, so, whatever."
Anyway, we let him in on the joke after about 15 minutes just so no one would try to stick a fork in my eye in the bathroom or something. More fun to come.
Anyway, there are no comedy clubs here in the Caribbean (at least we haven't found one), so we need to make our own fun. One aspect of being a cruiser affords us great comedy potential in this area; first impressions. Cruisers seem to recognize each other instinctively and want to find out about you. I guess living on a small boat (sometimes alone) makes you want human contact all the more.
Anyway, almost without exception- the first question anyone asks is what is/was your job before you began life on a boat. This is where the fun begins. Whatever comes out of your mouth will shape the way they think about you..........the way they fill in all the blanks that they don't know about you. We all do it.............a lawyer has certain traits..........a doctor others.
The other day, an unsuspecting cruiser walked right into our comedic trap.
"So, Tom........what did you do back in DC ?"
"Oh, I had a boring job......you probably don't want to know" (this is what us pros call "the tease")
"No, really........what did you do ?"
"I'm a PHD in early childhood development. I developed a test that can be used soon after child birth to assess a baby's intelligence- a combination of DNA and reflex/response factors. My clients are wealthy moms. They make decisions on whether or not to give the kid up for adoption based on the results of the test. It's funny..........a lot of parents who think they're getting Eastern European babies are actually getting low achievers from Long Island".
Now a horrified look from my "pidgeon". Kirstin was doing a great job with her straight face........as if to say "What's wrong ?"
His first response............"So women do this ?"
"Yeah........you'd be surprised at the wait list."
His next question..........."Does the test work ?"
"We think so, er......um.......I mean, well, do you know how much clinical trials cost ?...........Of course by the time we test this thing fully I'll be on to my next start-up, so, whatever."
Anyway, we let him in on the joke after about 15 minutes just so no one would try to stick a fork in my eye in the bathroom or something. More fun to come.