THE HOLY GRAIL INDOCTRINATION

IS THIS JOLLY FELLOW THE NEXT JOHN CLEESE?THIS is my 14-year-old son. And this past weekend, as we contemplated the peach fuzz growing on his face, his deepening voice, the fact he has had his first relationship with a female and that he is now almost as tall as me...

I DEEMED IT THE PROPER TIME FOR HIM TO GO THROUGH A TEEN'S RITE OF PASSAGE TO PREPARE HIM FOR HIS IMPENDING LIFE AS A YOUNG ADULT MALE.

I have exposed him to Monty Python, the most sickeningly funny bits of humour ever recorded on film. And not only did I accompany him on this journey to manhood, my 18-year-old daughter was present. She even giggled a bit.

But no, this was a critical moment in my testosterone-heavy son's transition from boy to man, from teen to titanic pickup artist and joke-teller, from moronic idiot to...well, moronic idiot.

We rented both Monty Python and the Holy Grail and The Meaning of Life. I admit, I wondered if this was perhaps too bold a manoeuvre on my part, too much to expose him to at one time.

I was wrong.

At this very moment, he is roaring in laughter, yet again, at the rabbit scene in the Holy Grail. Earlier, he was giggling uncontrollably at the middle of the movie scene in Meaning of Life, the search for fish.

But there is no doubt that the Holy Grail -- particularly the white rabbit, black knight and bridge-keeper scenes -- will give my son a lifetime of comedic understanding, depth and backbone to fall back on as he learns to love women, career and children...

Even as they will crush him all.

NI!

For those who may have gotten off the trail for the Grail, here are some reminders...and if I can figure out how to include a clip or two from YouTube, I'll add it later...