Echoes From A Distance

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