Any long term relationship has it’s own internal language, and that includes awesome long-standing jokes. I am a firm believer that if something is funny once, it is hilariousness when you’re still throwing it out there 10 years later.

So, the thing about Gretchen is that she remembers every lyric to every song, even songs she’s only heard once. I can’t remember the words to any songs, even songs I just lead the congregation through in worship, even songs I wrote and recorded and sang 50 times.

So, of course, one of my favorite things to do is start the first line of a song, and then immediately veer off into left field, just making up lyrics as I go along.

When we were dating, she thought it was cute. When we were dating a little longer, it was a little less cute. Then we got married, and she would just groan at me. This continued for like 7 years. Then, we had a pair of little ankle-biters. Sophia is sharp enough now to get what I’m doing, and she falls of the chair laughing, then says, “Nooooooo, Dadddddyyyyy!” In almost exactly the same exasperated tone that my wife uses. It’s hilarious.

So, I’m firmly convinced that this will be the running family gag for, like, the next 50 years. Sorry babe.

What about you all? Any long-standing gags that keep coming back around, 10 years in?