As soap is to the body, so laughter is to the soul. — A Jewish Proverb
Against the assault of laughter, nothing can stand. — Mark Twain
Always laugh when you can. It is cheap medicine. — Lord Byron
There’s nothing like a good laugh. Who has made you laugh when you really needed to?
Barb: It’s sappy, but I have to say my husband Bill Carito. Recently, with Bill’s brother’s help, we put up 84 pieces of art and photographs at our new home. As you might guess, there were some disagreements–about what went where, how high it should be, whether it was straight, etc. But we also laughed all day–and we got the job done. Which is pretty much all you can ask of a partnership, I think.
Edith: On Sunday Hugh and I spent the day with our favorite eleven- and eight-year olds. We played multiple rounds of a card game in the afternoon and laughed our heads off at everything – at how Mr. J has trouble sorting the cards in his hands, at Hugh having the same trouble, at Miss B making too many bluffs and having to take nearly the entire deck, and at me for all kinds of things, too. It was the kind of fun you can only have with children around and I loved it.
Sherry: I grew up in a house with a lot of laughter. My dad loved to tell jokes and had a quick wit. It shaped my life in many ways. I’m attracted to friends who laugh, enjoy inserting humor into my books, and my lovely husband is good at dishing it out, but taking it too.
Liz: Once again, my good friend Glenn makes an appearance on the Wickeds. He’s the funeral director and also the guy I identified as my odd couple match. I think one of the reasons we’ve been friends for 20+ years is because when we’re together, we mostly laugh the entire time. Over stupid, nonsensical things, or old jokes from when we worked together (yes, 20 years ago). It’s one of the best things about our friendship.
Julie: My sisters make me laugh. We’ll be talking about something fairly serious, and one of us cracks a joke and before long I can’t breath because I’m laughing. The best gift of all.
Readers: Where do you find the gift of laughter?
Two old friends (old in the long term sense-certainly not the age sense-did I cover that ladies?). Went to high school with one and college with the other. Sometimes all it takes is a shared look. Bewildering to outsiders, but it’s the shorthand of years.
Sounds perfect, Kait.
Life.
That is a good philosophy!
With my sister and my friends. Thinking about old memories, trips we’ve taken, and just about life.
That is wonderful!
Is a sense of humor hereditary? My mother didn’t get that gene, but my father could poke fun at his family and himself (in a positive way). Sometimes his jokes were kind of odd, but I always understood them.
That sounds like my dad, Sheila!
I am so amazed at the smiles and laughter that we see in the memory care facility where my dad lives now….those workers there are incredibly loving and they employ laughter and smiles with everyone. I read recently a quote by Jennifer Jones: “If you could choose one characteristic that would get you through life, choose a sense of humor.”
That is lovely and I love the quote!
My son is usually very quiet, but he has a sly, understated humor that will really crack me up at times.
I love that kind of humor!
I have so many friends who make me laugh. And my family always laughs together, which make times together so much more special.
That is great!
Great topic, Sherry!! I like BarbaraKay’s response of “Life”. I really try to enjoy everyone and everything around me as much as possible. The absurdity makes me a laugh a lot. My wonderful husband of 44 years and our daughter both make me laugh with their intelligent humor that both stretches me and makes me laugh.
It is so good to find things to laugh about!
In our family we have always made it a practice to try to find the humor in the direst of circumstances. When I have a truly awful day I tell myself “someday you’ll be able to find the humor in this.” And I always manage to do it.
That is a great practice!
I have to give my cats credit for giving me a million things to laugh about. They’re always up to something!
Mine are, too!
Are you kidding me. Easiest question ever, my family. And if you knew my family, you would know why we laugh so much when we are together.
Absolutely, Annette! I have only seen you and Ramona together, but that was enough. Such delightful people.
Definitely from my Dad. I miss him greatly but I can still laugh when I think of some of things he said or did. <3
Me too, Kay!