* * *
"Hi. Hop in."
"Thanks, I appreciate the ride."
"No problem. Where are you going?"
"I don't know. That's what I want to find out. Where are you going?"
"To San Diego."
"Then where are you going?"
"Back home, why?"
"And then where are you going?"
"Well, oh, I get it. Then I'm going to rise in the firm and
become president."
"And then where will you go?"
"I guess eventually I'll retire. Say, you feeling all right? You
seem a little strange."
"But after you retire, where will you go?"
"Well, we all die eventually, so I guess I'll wind up at the cemetery."
"And then where will you go?"
"I get it. You're one of those religious fanatics, right? I think
you'd better find another ride. You can get out here."
"Okay, I'm going. But I see you don't know where you're
going, either."
"Yes, I do. I'm going to San Diego."
Semiotics Strikes Out
It so happened in heaven one day that two souls who had been friends
in their college years on earth met after long lives apart. After a
few minutes of joyous reunion and recounting of their lives, one of
the souls realized that they were now in a place where all hearts
can be revealed, and where they no longer needed to hide anything.
"You want to hear something funny, Lissa?" the soul said. "Back
when we were young, I really loved you. Not having you for my wife
is the one great regret of my earthly existence. Pretty silly, huh?"
"Not at all," said Lissa. "I always secretly loved you, too, and
hoped against hope that someday you might notice me."
"Why didn't you say anything?"
"I was too shy. But I sent you hints."
"Hints?"
"Yes, like the brownies I gave you that rainy day in the
student union."
"Oh, or like the chocolate-chip cookies you gave me that one time?"
"Well, no, those were only cookies. I was just being friendly. But
that Christmas when I gave you a coffee mug. That meant I loved you."
"Oh, I know. That thank-you note you wrote when I fixed your sink
you signed, 'Love ya special.' That was a hint, huh?"
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