many of us, me included, like to think that we are
funny

we cherish memories of those many times when,
"our flashes of merriment, set the table on a roar"

in our mind's eye, we sometimes see ourselves
standing on a stage before an eager crowd like a
Richard Pryor, Jerry Seinfeld or Chris Rock

we pause a moment, look at the wide-eyed audience,
and with perfect timing, deliver a gut-busting one-
liner that brings the house down

the ensuing laughter and applause thrills us, and
we are flying

well, for 99.99% of us self-proclaimed funny people,
this imagined moment is the highlight of our comedy
careers

it doesn't get any better than that because we don't
have the drive, the guts or the what-ever to:

get up on the stage, show our stuff and risk the
indifference, disdain and deadly silence of a
disappointed audience

there are, however, a few who do venture to
that stage; and they -

show the people what they got, deal with the
immediately-delivered feedback, keep moving,
keep on - and slowly, over whatever time it takes,
hone their comedic skills

how can they do it?
why do they do it?

i really don't know, but i admire them, as i remain
seated in the audience