Sample Pun: “I wonder, do Eskimo salesmen use their cell phones to make cold calls?”

Those of us who are introverts are lucky in many ways, not the least of which is we’ll never be bored. If things around us are going too slowly or we lose interest in them for a variety of reasons, not to worry, we have a built-in “backdoor” that opens on a fascinating world within that utterly blows away boredom. It is not falling but leaping down Alice’s rabbit hole; it is storming the castle in the Land of Oz; it is crossing the River Styx with safe passage back; it is the portal to the shores where unicorns bound and Merlin holds court.

This realm is often referenced as “day dreaming” usually said with a certain tone in the voice, a pejorative state to be avoided by all responsible children and adults. It suggests laziness and a flawed character. But for those of us in this like-minded subset it is a world of wonder, an energy field so charged the world lights up with the sacred powers of the universe. It is the perfect place for a child to land when the world outside turns colorless and limp without form. The creative urge resides in this realm and must be nurtured and stimulated else that part of us withers and dies. For some unused to the roller coaster ride that is the creative process things can be frightening and unsettling. There is often the sensation the ground beneath is unstable and threatens to erupt in a massive burst of molten lava and incendiary fireworks. All sense of control evaporates.

For the introvert this is usually not the case for it is often our usual and familiar fare. It is the darkened and dusty attic with all manner of curious and amazing finds, things that are the answers to questions as yet unasked, fertile ground where the seeds of future imaginings germinate. It is the place where wonder dwells, and the soul soaks in the fires of valor. For me the world of puns is akin to this inner sanctuary. When my mind stumbles over the “perfect storm” of word play I am instantly in this world, awash in the richness that is words. In opening these pages I trust you are no stranger to words, that you are coming home.

My grandchildren have worked with me on artwork for all the previous volumes of this series and have done so for this volume. Each time they have assisted by contributing artwork to various puns, and have touched this elder punster by laughing at the creations of a bent and skewed mind.

Gordon H. Nagai ~ Eugene, OR ~ Spring 2015