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You know the man who told me about it on the bus, as it went up the hill out of Scranton, Pennsylvania, he shrugged his shoulders, he shook his head, and he said (and this is exactly what he said) 'Boy that sure must've been something. Just imagine thirty thousand pounds of bananas. Yes, there were thirty thousand pounds of mashed bananas. Of bananas. Just bananas. Thirty thousand pounds. of Bananas-not no driver now. Just bananas!'

Harry Chapin#85

AbsurdityChaosDisasterEventsHumorStoriesStorytelling

About this quote

What does it mean?
An absurd accident involving a massive amount of bananas is recounted with humor. It highlights the surreal nature of news and human reaction to chaos.
In plain terms
Someone describes a bus accident with thirty thousand pounds of mashed bananas with disbelief.
What can you take from it?
Reality can be more absurd than fiction.

Where it applies

  • sharing strange news
  • remembering odd events

Putting it to work

  • share stories of chaos
  • find humor in mishaps

Questions to consider

  • What strange thing have you heard recently?
  • How do you react to chaos?

Another view

This focuses on the absurdity rather than any real tragedy involved.

More from Harry Chapin

  1. And he said 'God, make it a dream!' as he rode his last ride down. And he sideswiped nineteen neat parked cars, clipped off thirteen telephone poles, hit two h…

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  2. It was the town that made America famous. The churches full and the kids all gone to hell. Six traffic lights and seven cops and all the streets kept clean. Th…

    Permalink to quote #86
  3. He was picking speed as the city spread its twinkling lights below him. But he paid no heed as the shivering thoughts of the nights delights went through him. …

    Permalink to quote #83

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