Perspicuity

I did this cartoon in 1995 for Cori and my wedding program.

There’s a store near my home with a big industrial plastic sign out front. It’s the kind of sign that’s lit from within by long fluorescent lights. In big, bold letters it reads "WEDDING SUPPLIES." I always read it as "WELDING SUPPLIES."

Although I would have loved to, I did not wear a welding suit to the ceremony. If I had, I believe the nuptial event would never have occurred.

References

I grew up in rural New Jersey (not an oxymoron, honest) near a farm with an electric fence. Though never tempted to lick the fence, I did like to jump up and touch it to see if I would get shocked when my feet weren't touching the ground. (I can't remember the results: I guess I'll have to find an electric fence again.)

I thought it would be funny to have a sign saying not to lick, in the spirit of those inane signs that are posted on products so as not to make the manufacturers legally liable for random acts of stupidity: "Caution! Coffee is hot!," "Do not step on the top of this step ladder," or "Keep forks out of toaster and toaster out of bathtub."