Uncle Moishe called the other day to wish me a happy Thanksgivnukkah. We talked family and commiserated over the season the NY Giants were having, oy.
Unc told me that he was recently walking in Pelham Bay Park with his good friend and pinochle partner Sol Arnstein on a pleasant fall afternoon. Solly confided in Unc that he recently had gone to the doctor as he was having some trouble at home. Apparently Sol was getting more and more worried about his wife, Miriam’s temper. Doctor Levy asked Sol what seemed to be the problem. Sol said that he didn’t know what to do. Every day Miriam seemed to lose her temper for no reason and that it was really beginning to scare poor Solly. Knowing Sol for many years, Doc Levy nodded and replied that he had just the cure for that. He instructed Sol that whenever it seemed his wife was getting angry, he should take a glass of water and start swishing it around in his mouth. Just swish and swish, but don’t swallow it until Miriam either leaves the room or goes to sleep.
As they continued to walk Sol tells Unc that two weeks later he went back to the doctor feeling fresh and relaxed. He told the doctor that it was a brilliant idea, and that every time Miriam started losing it he swished and swished and she calmed right down. But Sol was very curious and asked Doctor Levy how a glass of water could do that? The doctor replied, “Solly, I must be honest with you. We’ve known each other a long time and you know I love you and Miriam but the water itself does absolutely nothing. It is you keeping your mouth shut that is the solution”.