Murphy's World

Who’s on first

Dear Murphy,

A while back, I was waiting for a load out of Dallas. It was Friday noon, and I was looking forward to going home. The dispatcher said I had a “Tuesday morning.”

I told him I wasn’t waiting four days for a load, and I told him to find something else.

He said, “Ok, it’s ready now.”

I said, “Where?”

He said, “Tuesday morning.”

I said, “I’m not waiting.”

This went back and forth for 30 minutes. Imagine my embarrassment when he told me “Tuesday Morning” is the company name. Oops!

Pete Hans

Cerritos, CA

Dear Pete,

Oh, the beauty of miscommunication.

Abbott and Costello, the great comedy act of yesteryear, turned a bit of miscommunication such as yours into one of the classic comedy skits of all time. We’re referring, of course, to “Who’s On First?” in which a peanut vendor played by Lou Costello asks a mythical baseball manager played by Bud Abbott before a game to name his players. As they say in Hollywood, hilarity ensues:

Costello: “Look, you gotta pitcher on this team?”

Abbott: “Now wouldn’t this be a fine team without a pitcher.”

Costello: “What’s the pitcher’s name?”

Abbott: “Tomorrow.”

Costello: “You don’t wanna tell me today?”

You didn’t happen to record your 30-minute exchange, did you Pete? If so, you might be sitting on a comedic gold mine.

Regards,

Murphy and Lucky Dog