honestly, what are the odds?

We had a work event last night- an associate appreciation night at a nearby restaurant, complete with appetizers, unlimited free drinks, and a very funny comedian. I was fairly surprised that the firm would hire a comedian to do a show, considering that there were only about 50 guests in our private room at the restaurant. It made for a very personal show, with the comedian making fun of my work colleagues and picking people out of the crowd to poke fun.

This was a totally different atmosphere for a comedian than I'd ever seen. I knew everyone around me, making it all the more funny when he made a joke about them. It was quite easy to crack jokes when everyone's profession was things like "tax attorney" or "patent attorney" or "private equity attorney." I thought I might pee my pants when he asked one partner what he did, and when he moved onto the next partner he said "I do his leftovers." I knew what he meant, but the comedian's reaction was to point out how dirty our law firm apparently was.

I've been trying to cut out what little alcohol I do consume, for obvious reasons, but at the same time, I'd prefer not to raise any questions at firm functions. With the free flowing drinks, everyone had loosened up and the tables were peppered with martinis and mixed drinks. For that reason, I had Josh go to the bar for me, and order a Coke with grenadine- otherwise known as a Roy Rogers. Basically, a Shirley Temple, but with Coke. I figured that the Coke would disguise the absence of alcohol and no one would be the wiser.

Meanwhile, the comedian was circling the room, cracking jokes, asking where people went to school, etc. At one point he came around to us, asked Josh whether he was a lawyer and then congratulated him on marrying one instead. He asked my name while I was laughing, and then moved on. A few minutes later, though, he came back around to me, and did you guess yet? Asked what I was drinking.

I could. not. believe. it. What are the odds? Before I could answer, Josh piped in with "Roy Rogers!!!" and the room exploded with laughter. At this point, I started laughing too hard to answer when he asked me sarcastically what was IN a Roy Rogers. With tears streaming, I covered my face with my hands while the laughter increased. Finally, I managed to squeak out that it was a Coke with grenadine, and frankly, I've never heard my colleagues laugh as hard or as long before.

For the rest of last night and most of this morning, my emails have been peppered with references to "good old Roy" and those I work with have told me that I'll never live it down. People don't make fun of you unless they like you, right? Sigh.