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1. "Room Temperature Beer"
It was in the summer of 73 when I first met the great drummer Jo Jones as "PAPA JO." At the time I had just started working at the world famous drum shop "Professional Percussion Center" as a repair man. One day before the lunch, Frank the owner of the shop called me to get a six-pack of HEINEKEN for Papa Jo. When I came back with them, I tried to hand it to him and said "Here you go." Then, he said " Oh, young man, I'll teach you how to drink a beer. Put them in the sink over there and let the hot water running over them for a while. You understand?" My eyes and mouth were wide open for a few seconds. " You don't drink the cold beer. Bring back to the room temperature." said Papa Jo with a big smile. After the incident, I asked Frank and he said " In Europe they drink it at the room temperature. Papa Jo has been on the road in Europe for long long time and practically living in there a half of a year. So, he's used to the custom now."
However, it was very hard to understand for me, as being of turning just a 25 years old at the time. In the US they drink the cold one as in Japan, but I saw some people had it at the room temperature in these days. I think it is because the influence of European customs. Today, I know the room temperature beer is lot better for your health than the cold one. About 15 years ago, when I met a singer songwriter Robert from Tanzania, said " Right on the equator in Africa, a hot beer is so tasteful, man." I could never believe what he said in those days.
2. "How did they come out?"
Not talking about down there, but this time I'm gonna talk about Americans' thoughtful kindness. This little story had happened in Professional Percussion Center that mentioned in the first column, "Warm Beer." I had a fun loving, very funny young coworker Paul who used to have a lot of black humors. For example, when he picked up an incoming phone call, he'd say " Yes, this is the Professional Concussion Center!! What can I do for you?" So, you know some people on the other side of the line would have believed it's a some kind of hospital and of course, Paul made sure that our boss Frank was out of the shop before picking it up. Well, he was only 18 and what would you expect? We, as drummers, had a full of silly fun in that shop all the time.
One day when I came out of the bathroom after I was sitting on the toilet for a long long time, Paul was waiting right out side of the door, and said "How did they come out?"
I couldn't answer it right way because it was so unexpected, but somehow I understood what he meant. He was very anxious to find out I was A-OK. It's a pretty thoughtful joke that I felt truly humane in the words he said. Since that day I picked the joke and used it any time came across the situation. But later I found out the joke isn't the joke for little kids because parents use it when their kids needs health check. Anyway, you should not lie when someone ask you the question. Say something like, "Yea, it was great!", " Terrible!" or "So-so."
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Also, check my new friend's Japan's best humor site, " Japan Lite Amy Chavez"
©Copyright 2004 Tadashi Yasunaga All rights reserved
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