Fun_People Archive
29 Oct
Highly-Tuned Senses

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From: Peter Langston <psl>
Date: Wed, 29 Oct 97 15:53:45 -0800
To: Fun_People
Precedence: bulk
Subject: Highly-Tuned Senses  

[Back in 1965 I got to spend some time with (blind musician) Doc Watson
 while he was touring in Portland Oregan.  At that time, the old silver
 half-dollar coins (and quarters) were being replaced with new "sandwich"
 coins.  Doc was interested in collecting the old silver coins and could
 identify the denomination and construction of a whole pocketful of coins by
 the sound they made dropping on a table.  I have a photo of Doc and a group
 of us sitting around a table, dropping coins; we all have our eyes closed
 and a look of intense concentration; Doc is laughing indulgently...  -psl]

Forwarded-by: Rich Hartness <hartness@vnet.net>

	Highly Tuned Senses

A lady shuffles into the local sporting goods store to buy a fishing rod to
give to her husband for his birthday.

A salesman wearing dark glasses is behind the counter and asks, "Can I help
you ma'am ?"

"I'd like to buy a fishing rod, can you tell me about this one?" she says.

The salesman replies, "I'm sorry ma'am but I'm blind and can't see the rod
you're referring to. However, if you'll drop it on the counter I'll tell
you all about it from the sound it makes."

The lady picks up the rod, and drops it on the counter.

He says "That's a Zebco 2500, fiberglass, 6.5', medium action - $15."

Lady - "Wow !" She finds another rod and does the same.

"Thats an Orion 35C, graphite, 6', light action - best used with ultralight
tackle - $20."

Very impressed, the lady decides to buy the second one.

As they are walking over to the cash register, the lady passes gas, making
a rather large noise, but feels no need to apologize as the salesman is
blind and has no idea who she is.

The salesman says, "That'll be $25 plus tax."

"TWENTY FIVE DOLLARS !? YOU SAID $20!"

"That's right ma'am, it's $20 for the rod, and $3 for the duck call, and
$2 for the Extra-Power fish bait."

© 1997 Peter Langston