Why do you cut the ends off the ham?

It was the year 1984, the Christmas season had been a joy this year. All the family gathered Christmas week at Rogers house. Now Roger had a lovely wife, Sarah and a sweet daughter Sabrina . This evening Sabrina was helping Sarah in the kitchen making the traditional Christmas dinner. Sabrina loved helping her Mom any time but this dinner was especially exciting. The whole family had gathered and were sharing sorries in the living room while the “cooks” were in the kitchen. Sabrina was happy because she could help her mother and listen to the stories at the same time. Smells began to fill the house.

Roger was starting to feel the intense desire for delicious ham. He visited the kitchen just as the ham was coming out of the oven. He hopped to snitch a piece before dinner. He watched intently as his lovely wife cut the ends off the ham. Sabrina asked her mother why she cuts the ends off the ham before dinner. Roger didn't care until Sarah threw away the ends of the ham while answering, her daughter with the explanation that it makes the ham taste better. Roger's jaw dropped as he felt that such an injustice had just been committed in front of his very eyes. Roger didn't see any reason why perfectly good ham should be sent to oblivion. So mustering all the control a hungry man can, he calmly asked his lovely wife to explain how cutting the ends off the ham was supposed to make it tastes better? Sarah thought for a minute and realized that she really didn't know. She was always taught that it was so from her mother.

Roger tried to maintain... The nice thing about this traditional gathering was that “grandma” was here, so he tried not to bellow as he called for grandma Peterson. Grandma Peterson happily arrived while finishing her comment to the other room. Sarah, taking the initiative, said “Mom why do you cut the ends off the ham?” Grandma said, “because it makes the ham taste better.” Roger asked trying to sound reasonable, “What is wrong with the pieces you cut off?” “How does discarding perfectly good ham make whats left taste better?” Grandma pondered this question... She didn't know. She said, “I was always taught by my Mother. Roger rolled his eyes. How convenient that this year Great Grandma had joined them in the gathering. Roger said, Lets go ask great grandma. So they all went to the living room where everyone was having fun telling stories.

The room got quiet as it was set upon by a hungry Roger, a concerned girl, a slightly irritated wife and a curious grandma. Grandma Peterson asked her Mom, “Mother.... Why did you cut the ends off the Ham before dinner?” Grandma said with out hesitation “because it makes the ham taste better!” Something about how frankly and sweet the old lady had said this made Roger chuckle. He couldn't believe that the explanation had lasted so many generations. Patiently Grandma said, “Mom why does it taste better with the ends cut off?” Great Grandma started to get testy at such a common knowledge question being asked her, she said, “Because the oven is hot and the sides would burn.” Rogers eyes began to water, he started throwing a fit of laughter. He said to Great Grandma. So your oven was too small! Great Grandma said “It was sufficient for our needs” Everyone laughed.

I can't fully clam this one as my own. I have heard it and differing versions of it. Here I simply have ilistrated it and added detail. Origin credit goes to UNKNOWN.

-Sargon