A great American has died

[medjuck]

This non-partisan report comes to you (in a Fair and Balanced, yet

Heavenly Way, of course) courtesy of St. Peter's newsletter and weekly

shopper

*********************************

Ronald Reagan arrived at the Pearly Gates last week, and was met by St.

Peter. Reagan was stunned for a moment.

"You mean, I---I'm in?" he asked.

"That's right" said St. Peter. "Come on, man. I'll show you around." He

tossed the keys to a brand new Lincoln Town Car at Reagan, and said, "You

drive. This is your car, for the rest of eternity."

Reagan was buoyant as they drove along the streets of Heaven, through

sunny neighbourhoods. Finally they came to a really upscale part of town

(kind of like Bel Air), with large, shaded lawns and sparkling swimming

pools. St. Peter told Reagan that this is where he would be living.

"That's Franklin Roosevelt's house over there," St. Peter pointed out as

they drove, "And that's where Albert Einstein lives, next to Madame

Curie. Pope John Paul XXIII lives here....and here's your house." They

pulled into the driveway, and got out.

As Reagan was looking around, he noticed up in the hills a palace made of

shimmering, white granite. He could see it was enormous, with room after

room, and terraces with dozens of gold fountains.

"That must be where the Lord lives," said Reagan. St. Peter shook his

head."Nope, that's Ray Charles' place," he said. Reagan's smile faltered

for a moment.

"Ray Charles lives there? How come all the presidents, scientists and

popes live here, and Ray Charles lives up in that palace? I don't get it."

St. Peter chuckled. "Ronnie," he said, "Presidents and Popes are a dime a

dozen. But baby, there's only one Ray Charles."

[medjuck]

Of course the more famous version of this story is that Regan (or whomever) is being shown around and seeing an impressive looking indivudual askes St. Peters who it is. To which St. Pete answers "That's God-- he thinks he's Miles Davis."

I think got the punch-line right but somone here should be able to improve on my lead-in.

[Jazzdog]

There is another similar joke, in form, about Jimmy Buffett dying and being led to his house by God. Jimmy's place is a little shack on the beach, and he notices a big mansion on the mountainside with Grateful Dead banners and rainbow colored dancing bears and Jimmy says to God, I get this little shack and Jerry Garcia gets a mansion on the hill and God says, "That's not Jerry's house, that's my house"!