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Meaning
The speaker is joking about a difficult family situation by treating a serious memory with dry, understated humor. The second sentence makes the first line sound even more absurd by implying the behavior had a longer history. It reads as a dark comic reflection on a parent's instability.
When It Was Said
2005
Who It Was Said To
Not documented yet.
Historical Context
Not documented yet.
Source
in his memoir Never Have Your Dog Stuffed: And Other Things I've Learned, Random House, 2005, .
Original Language & Translation
Originally said in English.
Did They Really Say It?
Listed with a cited source on Wikiquote.
Did You Know?
It is cited in his memoir Never Have Your Dog Stuffed: And Other Things I've Learned (Random House, 2005).
About Alan Alda
American actor and filmmaker
Alan Alda is an American actor and filmmaker. Born Alphonso Joseph D'Abruzzo, he has had a career spanning seven decades on stage and screen. He is best known for playing Captain Benjamin Franklin "Hawkeye" Pierce in the CBS wartime comedy drama M*A*S*H, and for writing and directing many episodes of the series. His work in M*A*S*H made him a familiar figure to television audiences, and his career has brought him major awards, including six Emmy Awards and six Golden Globe Awards. He has also been nominated for an Academy Award, two BAFTA Awards, a Grammy Award, and four Tony Awards.
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READ THE SOURCE
Books by Alan Alda
Never Have Your Dog Stuffed
2005
Things I overheard while talking to myself
2007
If I understood you, would I have this look on my face?
2017