It’s often said that a song, like a scent, can whisk us away to a particular time or place, and I wouldn’t disagree. Some couples have ‘their’ song while others wince at the memory of a mangled romance that was connected to ‘Every Breath You Take,’ or ‘Achy Breaky Heart.’

Personally, I’ve always winced at ‘Achy Breaky Heart.’ Mostly because it’s appalling. But oh, the memories of driving my VW Beetle, windows rolled down, to the strains of ‘Rambling Man,’ or immediately changing stations after being unceremoniously dumped, whenever John Waite’s ‘Missing You,’ came on.

But that’s about it. Because what connects me most often to memories aren’t songs, but comedy. Specifically, funny one-liners from fellow comics, and sometimes entire ‘bits,’ (what civilians refer to as ‘routines’). For example, on those rare occasions when I visit a mall to buy clothes, as I stare at the displays, I can’t help but to think of Elayne Boosler’s observation, well over 25 years ago, about how realistic female mannequins have become, right down to the most, ahem, ‘physical’ details:

“Why would I want to buy a sweater that obviously can’t even keep the mannequin warm?”

We chuckle, or outright laugh because comedy is based on truth cartooned out of proportion, and that is why we can relate to it, regardless of how we might try to deny it. Even the exciting news of the impending solar eclipse didn’t make me rush to my computer to see if where I reside would guarantee a satisfying view. No, it took me immediately to Jerry Seinfeld:

“Looking at cleavage is like looking at the sun. You don’t stare at it. It’s too risky. Ya get a sense of it and then you look away.”

And it kills me that I cannot remember the name of the comic who pops into my head each and every time I do housework, but this still makes me crack up:

“Ever notice when a woman brings up the word, ‘commitment,’ the guy immediately gets the same expression as the cat when you pull out the vacuum cleaner?”

This is why I think couples should have ‘their’ joke instead of some cloying song that gives them special meaning. Because marriage is hard work and frankly, after a few years, you need all the laughs you can get. Starting right after the engagement:

“I love my ring. It belonged to his great grandmother. Took us about a month to find out where she was buried.”

That one’s mine.

But seriously, folks…