“You’ve absolutely got to have a sense of humor if you’re a nurse.” So says Dave Barry, renowned humor columnist and author of countless funny books, including Boogers are My Beat. He joined us recently for a discussion about health care, humor, and what makes us laugh.
JNJ: Why is it so critical for a nurse to have a sense of humor?
Dave Barry: Human beings discover two things as they go through life. They discover that the world is really an unsafe and unfair place. No matter what you do, you’re going to die.
Now, there are two reactions people have to this. They get religion, which tells them that there’s a plan, that things happen for a reason, and that even if they die, there’s an afterlife. Or they use humor.
JNJ: Humor can be an effective way to deal with what scares us.
Dave Barry: If you look at what people laugh at, it’s really scary stuff. In nursing, you’re not going to get religion. I mean, yeah, some people do. But you look at all the innocent people who get hurt, at the kids who die, and you’ve got to relieve the pain somehow. How else could you do that job?
JNJ: Can you tell us about your views on the health care system? Anyone who read your piece about having a colonscopy ( A journey into my colon http://www.miamiherald.com/living/columnists/dave-barry/story/427603.html) knows that’s coming from a man who’s been there, done that…
Dave Barry: I don’t remember any of the procedure, thank God!
JNJ: (laughs) Well, we’d hope not! The recovery and the prep…
Dave Barry: Oh, God. The prep. That was horrible!
JNJ: Did that experience give you any thoughts on our health care system?
Dave Barry: Sure. It’s not very organized! There are lots of people who tell you you have to do things, and very few people who tell you how to do it. So on one hand, you’ve got people telling you that you’ve got to take care of yourself, but no one tells you how to make an appointment — or how to pay for it!
So you do make the appointment, and you’re there for a very long time, and at the end, they hand you a piece of paper. It’s not very organized.
That’s why I don’t participate. (laughs)
JNJ: Let’s switch gears. You find so much humor in everyday things. Was that something you learned how to do? Were you always funny?
Dave Barry: I was always a wise ass. In school, I wasn’t very good at sports. I wasn’t really smart. I had nothing else going on, and I was small. I had to be funny to keep from getting beat up. I needed humor.
I came from a pretty funny family. Both of my parents were funny. They encouraged sarcasm — so much so, that after I grew up, I had to learn that people actually said things and meant them. Not everything had to be ironic!
JNJ: So you learned to be funny?
Dave Barry: I hesitate to say I’m an expert on humor. People ask me to be, but I’m not. What I can say, though, after doing this for thirty years, is that humor can’t be taught. You’re either funny or you’re not. You get it or you don’t.
I feel sorry for the people who don’t. They write letters to me.
But there’s no absolute sense of humor. What’s funny to me might not be funny to you. Most people could absolutely laugh more. That you can do.
JNJ: And what do you think about nurses?
Dave Barry: I love nurses. Nurse are great. Nurses are wonderful. Really, any time you have an encounter with the health care system that’s satisfactory and direct, you’re dealing with a nurse. They’re the ones that do most of the procedures. The doctors? They’re like the Wizard of Oz — off behind a curtain somewhere.
JNJ: Thank you. I’m sure our readers will be happy to hear that! Any final parting words?
Dave Barry: For the nurses? I’m glad they’re there. I’m really bad about needles. I mean, a lot of people are. And it’s the nurses job…but I feel bad, when I’m there, pathetic and whimpering when they have to stick me. My final words? I hope they find that vein really fast!
If you’d like to learn more about Dave and what he’s up to now, you can visit DaveBarry.com
