Punning on "Tense"

Mike wrote sum more abt his recent visit 2 Weed's studio in TO:

April,

Little sis. Just when you think Josef Weeder could not be any more talented, he proved to me that not only is he a superb photographer, but he could also make a living as a party planner. During my most recent trip to visit him in Toronto in his studio, he suggested I should have a party to celebrate becoming an author. I thought he was joking, but he said, "We can use my studio! Look at the space! Invite everyone! Family! School buddies. Guys from work! Make it BIG! B.Y.O.B., right? We line up a food trough, score some seats, wind up the tunes an' ta-daah!"

I expected Weed to finish that last sentence off with "Ta-daah, you have a party." But he didn't. All I could do was stand there, with my hands in my pockets, incredulous at the idea. Little sis. As you are probably old enough to know by now, people in Milborough don't throw parties in the same places where they work. They throw parties in their homes or in hotels. In fact the last party Deanna and I were invited to was Gordon and Tracy's New Years' Eve party in 2003 and that was at Gordon and Tracy's house. Weed's studio is in Toronto, so that might allow us to throw a party there without Milboroughan reprisals, but I didn't know how many people would be willing to drive 2 hours to get to the party. So I said to Weed, "You'd throw a party? Here?"

Weed had already put together a special brew of coffee in the kitchen and he poured me a cup as he responded, "Man, after what we've been through, we both need to unwind!" I said, "Yeah." I knew exactly what he meant. Both our apartments suffered damage due to the fire-starting Kelpfroths. Both of us had to find different places to live while we were waiting for the insurance to come through. Both of us were forced to spend an extended period of time with our spouse or significant other, without any refuge or means to regularly relieve tension.

As I thought about my tension, I said, "…It's been a tense time, hasn't it." As I sometimes do, I stated that question instead of asking it. Weed understood me immediately, as he so often does. He clinked his coffee cup to mine, as we communicated to each other through our eyes our acceptance of each other and my acceptance of his invitation to have a party at his studio.

Then Weed said, "But the best part is…we're talking past tense, Mike! ---The future looks wonderful!!" Weed made a pun off the word "tense." That is the sign of true friend, who will take what you have said make a pun out of it. Weed put his arm around me and led me into the sunset as the credits started running behind us. I said, "Weedie. I think this is going to be the beginning of a beautiful friendship." Just kidding.

I love visiting Josef Weeder. Not only is he a fantastic photographer, but he is a good party-planner and tension reliever. After that visit with him, my tension was gone and my future looked bright. Thanks to Weed, I decided to stop and enjoy the moment. Not only that, but I am going to have a party in my honour, for the first time since I was in university and Weed threw me a party to celebrate getting a dumpster. I have a feeling this party is going to be even better than that one.

Love,
Michael Patterson

I guess we shd consider ourselves lucky that Weed didn't do the old "two tents/too tense" pun. But personally, when sum1 puns on sumthing I just sed, insteada thinking "true friend," I kinda kick myself 4 not phrasing my words more carefully an' punproofly.

Apes