On my 60th birthday, I got a gift certificate from my wife. The
certificate paid for a visit to a shaman living on a nearby
reservation
who was rumored to have a wonderful cure for erectile dysfunction.
After being persuaded, I drove to the reservation, handed my ticket
to
the shaman, and wondered what I was in for. The old man slowly,
methodically produced a potion, handed it to me, and with a grip on
my
shoulder, warned, This is powerful medicine and it must be respected.
You take only a teaspoonful and then say '1-2- 3.' When you do that,
you
will be more potent than you have ever been in your life and you can
perform as long as you want.'
I was encouraged. As he walked away, I turned and asked, 'How do I
stop
the medicine from working?'
Your partner must say '1-2-3-4,' the shaman responded. But when she
does, the medicine will not work again until the next full moon.
I was eager to see if it worked I went home, showered, shaved, took a
spoonful of the medicine, and then invited my wife to join me in the
bedroom. When she came in, I took off my clothes and said, '1-2-3!'
Immediately, I was the manliest of men.
My wife was excited and began throwing off her clothes. And then she
asked, What was the 1-2-3 for?
And that, boys and girls, is why we should never end our sentences
with
a preposition.
