JULY 2020
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PATRIOT WEALTH
WANT TO HEAR A JOKE?
THE BEST PRANK MY DAD EVER PULLED
“Humor is a great thing, the saving thing. The minute it crops up, all our irritations and resentments slip away and a sunny spirit takes their place.” –Mark Twain I believe humor is powerful. When we weave it into our professional and personal lives, everyone is better because of it. Studies have found that humor can improve our moods, productivity, and health, and Mayo Clinic even reports it can ease stress, boost our immune system, and enhance our organ health. I don’t think there’s ever been a better time in the modern era for us to turn to humor. As we battle difficult times, illnesses, and more, humor can lift our spirits. So, in honor of International Joke Day on July 1, I want to humbly share the story of the best prank my father ever pulled on me. My dad, Rick White, and I have always had a joking relationship. Whether we’re at work or at home, we can often be found going back and forth, teasing one another, and keeping work and life as lighthearted as possible. When I was a junior in high school, I had a job as a busboy and waiter at the restaurant just across the street from my school, Cardinal Gibbons High School. One day after work, I walked out of the restaurant, and my stomach dropped. My beloved red 1994 Jeep Cherokee was missing. Everyone remembers their first car, and my Jeep was so special to me — and it was nowhere to be found. I could hear my father’s voice nagging in my head to lock my door, which I never did. To top it off, the keys were still in the vehicle. It was a thief’s dream. So, I hoofed it back
inside and asked to use the phone to call the police. I had to swallow my pride as I explained that my car was stolen, that yes it was unlocked, and yes, the keys were in it. After I hung up with the police, I called my dad and prepared for a barrage of “I told you so.” Instead, after telling Dad my car was stolen and that I was waiting for the police so I could fill out a report, he said, “You’re filling out what!?” I explained that the police were on their way, and at that very moment, my Jeep came swinging around the corner — with my dad in the driver’s seat. Within minutes I had gone from panicked to worried to relieved! Turns out, my dad had taken my car, and if I had filed that report, a harmless prank to teach me a lesson could have become much more serious! We had a good laugh about the joke, and even the police got a big kick out of it when I called them back. Plus, I learned a big lesson. I don’t think I have left my car unlocked since that day. This is just one example of the many pranks my dad and I pull together. It’s always been that way between us. We find ways to make each other laugh, and ultimately, we know it’s all in good fun. I can’t wait to pull a few pranks and jokes on my own son, Noah, but if he’s anything like his dad and grandpa, I just might be on the receiving end of a few myself. No joke will ever top my dad’s greatest lesson on car safety, but who knows? Among me, my dad, and Noah, we have years of pranks left to pull.
–Wes White
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