Now & Then, 9/10/206

Ole and Lena jokes are a popular style of regional humor in the Upper Midwest, featuring fictional Norwegian-American characters named Ole, his wife Lena and their friend Sven. Once a year I dedicate my article to humor. I find that it is so important to add humor and laughter to our daily life. There is a time to be serious, and a time to grieve; but there is also a time to relax and laugh. I hope you will enjoy these as much as I do.
Sven and Ole worked together and both were laid off, so they went to the unemployment office together.
Asked for his occupation, Ole said, “Panty Stitcher. I sew da elastic onto ladies cotton panties.” The clerk looked up Panty Stitcher. Finding it classified as unskilled labor, she gave him $300 a week unemployment pay.
Sven was asked his occupation. “Diesel fitter,” he replied. Since diesel fitter was a skilled job, the clerk gave him $600 a week.
When Ole found out, he was furious. He stormed back into the unemployment office to find out why his friend and coworker was collecting double his unemployment pay. The clerk explained “Panty Stitchers are unskilled labor and diesel fitters are skilled labor.”
“Vat skill?” yelled Ole. “I sew da elastic on the panties, Sven puts dem over his head and says, “Yah, diesel fitter!”
Ole, Lena, and Sven were walking through the deep woods one day when they stumbled upon an old, dusty lamp. Ole picked it up and rubbed it, and out popped a magical genie. The genie announced that each of them would be granted one single wish.
Ole went first. “Vell, it’s pretty cold out here, so I vish I vas back home sitting in front of a nice, varm fireplace.” Poof! Ole vanished and was safely back home.
Lena went next. “I vish to be right next to Ole in front of dat fire.” Poof! Lena vanished.
Sven looked around the empty, freezing woods, sighed deeply and told the genie, “Boy, I am pretty lonely now dat dey’re gone. I vish my two friends were back here vith me in dese voods.”
Sven runs over to Ole’s house and shouts, “Ole, I yust saw somebody steal your truck!” Ole asks, “Did ya see who it vas?” Sven says, “No, but I got his license plate.”
Ole died, and Lena went to the local paper to put a notice in the obituaries. After offering his condolences, the gentleman at the counter asked Lena what she would like to say about Ole. Lena answered, “You yust put, ‘Ole died.’”
The gentleman, somewhat perplexed, said, “That’s it? Just, Ole died? Why there must be something more you’d like to say about Ole. If it’s the money you are concerned about, the first five words are free. We must say something more.”
So Lena pondered for a few minutes and finally said, “All right. ‘Ole died. Boat for sale.’”
Proverbs 17:22 “A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” This verse teaches that happiness and laughter improve physical and mental health.
Proverbs 31:25 “She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future.” This portrays confident joy and peace of the mind.
Joy and peace to you.