A father and his son were driving to a ball game when their car stalled on the railroad tracks. In the distance a train whistle blew a warning. Frantically, the father tried to start the engine, but in his panic, he couldn't turn the key, and the car was hit by the onrushing train. An ambulance sped to the scene and picked them up. On the way to the hospital, the father died. The son was still alive but his condition was very serious, and he needed immediate surgery. The moment they arrived at the hospital, he was wheeled into the emergency operating room, and the surgeon came in, expecting a routine case. However, on seeing the boy, the surgeon blanched and muttered, "I can't operate on this boy - he's me son."

what do you make of this grim riddle ?
was the surgeon lying or mistaken ? no.
was the father's soul reincarnated into the surgeon ? no.
was the boy adopted ? no.

Hi, guy:

The surgeon was the boy's mother.

right, well done.

The thing is it takes many people very long to figure this out.
It amazing how conditioned people are to think of surgeons as male...

yeah, but our Sparteye's pumped with coffee, an' ready to take on the world!

also, this riddle's been around since, what, the birth of feminism?

this riddle's been around since...

And it still catches people. I have told a version of it to women who thought they were either feminists or had gotten past feminism to full equality and they *still get bewildered.

but our Sparteye's pumped with coffee, an' ready to take on the world!

In fact, I've had an entire pot now, and I'm really ready TO TAKE ON THE WORLD!!!!!*






* Right after I visit the little girls' room.

Note also that Sparteye's title is addict!

the little girls' room

Sentence 1 to 5

An appealing young addict named Ann
Has a java jug jones (rather than
Stimulation illegal,
As befits such an eagle) –
Now she’s flushed with success in the can!

Damn you, Mav!!! I'm sitting in my office, just about choking to death trying to stifle the riotous laughter fighting to explode forth from me.

OMG - I feel so honored. That is the first (to my knowledge ) limerick ever written about me. Well done, Mav.

Loved it, mav!

[private to Sparteye: he's as good at limericks as you are at lipograms]