A newlywed farmer and his wife were visited by her mother, who immediately demanded a detailed inspection of the whole place. The farmer had genuinely tried to be friendly to his new mother-in-law, hoping they could develop a friendly, non-antagonistic relationship. All to no avail though, as she kept nagging them at every opportunity, suggesting changes, offering unwanted advice, and generally making life unbearable for the farmer and his new bride.
However, while they were walking through the barn, during the unhappy and unwanted inspection, the farmer's mule suddenly reared up and kicked the mother-in-law in the head, killing her instantly. It was a shock to all in the neighbourhood despite their feelings about her unnecessary and demanding behaviour.
At the funeral service a few days later, the farmer stood near the coffin and greeted people as they walked by. The vicar noticed that whenever a woman whispered something to the farmer, he would nod his head yes and say something. Whenever a man walked by and whispered to the farmer, however, he would shake his head no, and mumble a reply.
Curious as to this bizarre behavior, the vicar later asked the farmer what that was all about.
The farmer replied, "Well, the women would say, 'What a terrible tragedy' and I would nod my head and say, 'Yes, indeed it was.' But the men would then ask, 'Can I borrow that mule?' and I would shake my head and say, 'Sorry, no way. It's all booked up for a year!'"
“The good things don’t always soften the bad, but vice-versa, the bad things don’t necessarily spoil the good things and make them unimportant.”
“Nobody important? Blimey, that’s amazing. Do you know, in nine hundred years of time and space I’ve never met anyone who wasn’t important before.”
“If it’s time to go, remember what you’re leaving. Remember the best. My friends have always been the best of me.”
❤
