“A day without laughter is a day wasted!”
-Charlie Chaplin
MAAANNNN I love to laugh! I love to laugh so hard that it hurts! I love to laugh so hard that I spit things out of my mouth (and nose sometimes)! Consequently, during this wonderful phase of my life, often when I laugh hard I just might pee a little bit (I know, too much information, but I do tell the truth)!
There are several people who make me laugh EVERY TIME I see them! The first is Carla! Carla and I have been friends since we were 5. That is ½ a century of laughter- WOW! She can belt out the best and most infectious laugh I have ever heard! We don’t even have to talk - it can just be a look and we are in trouble for sure. We have gotten into trouble in so many places because we just laugh at dumb things - the Sketcher store ( you had to be there)! You know that one person you CAN’T sit by in serious situations….. it's Carla for me. Even now as a “grown up” it’s hard to keep it together sometimes. However, Carla has mastered the gift of being able to change her face to serious all the sudden and NOT get in trouble- hence the A in citizenship for her in 9th grade English and the B for Keli. My father was not impressed with ” But it was CARLA!” as an excuse. I know he was trying to “parent” me, but I also knew deep inside - he knew. I am sure after I was scolded a little, he probably turned his head and laughed! After all, Carla was “his daughter” too and constantly made him laugh! I could go on and on with all the stories and situations we have laughed hard about, but that will have to be a separate novel!
Another human that makes me smile and laugh ALL THE TIME is our granddaughter Harper. THIS GIRL! Seriously, she is about to be three and has conversations with people like she’s 17! She can already use her adorable face to express everything! Her parents (our beautiful daughter and wonderful son in love) are doing such a fantastic job and I can see their vibrant personalities popping right out of Harper! They are funny humans too! She says these new big words EVERY time I see her! I love it! Being around her is a happiness that I have never experienced! Harper gets so excited and wound up about simple things like going “forward” and backward” - as she runs towards you and away from you belting out these words! She’s just so funny! I know I am just the NiNi (my grandma name given to me by this adorable child) and I don’t see all the rough nights going to bed or when she has been really sick, but her fun, vibrant and enthusiastic personality shines so much and dims the light on the hard times of being two! I just love being around her and look forward to the years of laughter between us!
Finally, (well not really because there are lots of people who make me laugh) is my husband! This man is a mess - but he’s MY mess! Jon and I started dating when we were 14 and 15 (Carla had to approve). He was hilarious then and still is now. I used to tell my students that I was the quiet one in the family and they didn’t believe me. He tells the craziest stories! Although I have heard the majority of these stories a zillion times, they are still so funny to me. It’s how he gets so excited and his presentation style! HA! His “penny in my throat” or “buying underwear at Target” stories get me crying laughing EVERY TIME! He does make me chuckle quite a bit. I roll my eyes and just try to walk by, but I am laughing most of the time. He apparently has this accent that I don’t hear anymore, but EVERYONE who meets him comments to me about it. It is a slowwww drawn out country twang that adds that extra something to everything he says. His father and both his older and younger brother sound just like him and they all get wound up and get louder and louder when they are all together. If you are new to the family - it is quite the experience! HAHA!
I hope that you have people who make you laugh! I could go on and on and on about my people: family, friends and former students and athletes (oh how teenagers make me laugh)! Laughter is good for the soul and makes us better people. I honestly feel bad for people who can’t/don’t laugh - especially at themselves. When I meet these people, it’s always been my goal to get them to crack up or at least make them smile! Life is too short not to smile! I know we all have done some crazy embarrassing things (especially us teachers - here’s to another book) to create great stories to pass down! So do it!
I hope this week you laugh hard! Read a book that makes you laugh Cheap and Easy… Just like Me by Jackie Wildman Hooks is one you won’t regret! Oh My Goodness!!! Read it, plus you get some great recipes! (https://www.amazon.com/Cheap-Easy-Just-Like-Me/dp/B0C91DKQPQ )
I also hope you belly laugh so hard with friends and family that you just might pee! Oh well….It happens!