Echoes from a Distance

Shortly after I had returned from a foreign trip some years ago, anold friend saw me and quickly noticed that I had gone partially bald. He was startled. So, he spontaneously yelled a seemingly tough questionat me: What happened to the hairs on your head? Spontaneouslytoo, I yelled an answer back at him: Nature took them in place ofthe wisdom that I couldnt pay for! And we teased and laughed. My friend thought I had joked, but I knew I hadnt. However, Illleave the judgment to you. By the time youre done digesting the substance of this more thancompelling masterpiece, Id like to know your stand. Had I jokedor had I not?