the Peterborough Senior Center
Image by Matti Kniva Spencer
MAKING UP JOKES, MAKING PEOPLE SMILE…
By Mikhail Khazin
(For Clyde Whalen’s 90th birthday)
At his respectable age Clyde Whalen hasn’t stop working, communicating, being friendly with people, being actively involved in many life problems of the Fenway neighborhood, of Boston and the entire world. In every issue of the small newspaper “Fenway News” his column regularly appears. He has his own show “The Clyde Whalen Experience” on TV, Boston Neighborhood Network.
As an entertainer Clyde may be wasn’t a stage or screen star, a Hollywood heartthrob, but he was a delightful comedian, who left many audiences, even the most discriminating, convulsed with laughter. Boston Mayor Thomas Menino appreciated highly Clyde’s activity, his energy and talent, sending him a letter of compliment.
Clyde Whalen was born on August 3, 1919. He studied in the Boston Latin School, but during the depression dropped out early from classes and started a career in show business – first as a singer in movie theaters, then on radio.
In World War II he served in the Air Force, where he attended to troop morale, appearing in Army Shows. After the war “the singing soldier“ changed and tasted a few other art professions. In any of them he expressed his personality, his dream to bring more joy and peace in human souls.
As a singing comic he traveled on transatlantic cruise ships performing his optimistic program for the entire world. Especially he loved his creative meetings with military compatriots abroad: “My most memorable performing overseas was in England… I entertained a group of soldiers at American bases there and the reaction was just great. The audience was wonderful”. Switching from show business to journalism was for Clyde a natural step. His performing gift proved useful even in his new way of life when he started his TV programs.
Often in Clyde’s words good mood is combined with wisdom. I enjoy listening to him, talking with him. Many his expressions remain in memory.
They keep advertising flowers, – Clyde said, – but in fact, people are the real flowers of life… And if I have one wish, it would be to tiptoe through your tulips and water each and every one of you and watch you grow.”
His jokes bring smiles to faces.
Do you think we should stop eating chicken because they use fowl language?
Do you smoke? Just enough to maintain a slight cough.
An extinct volcano is a mountain that can’t get its rocks off.
A joke nobody laughs at is like a cry for help that nobody answers.
I want immortality, but am I willing to die for it?
Good things come to those who wait, but they’re not as fresh.
Trying to bring something fresh in this article I composed a traditional Questionnaire and asked Clyde to give brief answers, only one or a few words for every question. He agreed and expressed his gratitude for my attention to his life and answered with lightning speed.
Quality you most appreciate in human beings. Friendliness.
What is your distinguishing feature? A disinterest in food.
What is your idea of happiness? Contentment.
What is your idea of unhappiness? Inability to activate.
What do you appreciate highly in friends? Friendship.
Vice you most despise? Being judgmental.
Defect you are the most ready to excuse? Inability to adjust.
Your favorite occupation? Crowd pleasing.
Your favorite poet? Hasn’t been published yet.
Your favorite prose-writer? Too many to choose.
Your beloved heroine? Mother.
Your favorite life rule? Do unto others, as you would have them do unto you.
Your favorite flower? Daisy.
Your favorite color? Green.
Your dearly historical hero? Jesus Christ.
What historical personage do you hate most? Haven’t decided.
What is longevity? Something I am either blessed or cursed with.
What was the greatest blessing in your life? My mother’s pregnancy.
Who can catch the harmony of the Universe? Anyone not tone deaf.
Clyde comes to his 90th birthday, as usually, with a joke – When you’re out walking, you know how people come up to you and say: “Hello, how are you?” If you’re as old as I am, you can say: “I’m still vertical. If I get horizontal, I’ll let you know”.
So, I wish you, Clyde, to remain vertical and to sparkle with wit for a lot of coming years, many happy returns.
Mikhail Khazin lives in the West Fenway.
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