I have always had a personality that tends toward the melancholy. I’m sensitive and emotional. I’ve also spent so much time crying in my life that I’m tired of it. These days, I’m choosing laughter—which isn’t hard, considering I live with Monty, who seeks out comedy and would spend all day laughing if he could. What makes me laugh?
Impractical Jokers. Monty and I stumbled upon this show one day when I had a terrible case of the stomach flu. Even though I felt awful, this show made me laugh. The slogan of the show is “Four Lifelong Friends Who Compete to Embarrass Each Other.” The four friends use an earpiece to tell each other what to do while hidden cameras capture their antics. When Monty and I watch this show, we laugh so hard that my stomach hurts afterward—even without the stomach flu.
Adam. My brother Adam makes me laugh in his texts, in person, and when I think of our childhood memories. When our family went on road trips when we were little, Dad drove us in a station wagon—Adam and I sat crunched together in the very back. It was fun except for the lack of air conditioning back there. Adam was always able to sleep, no matter how uncomfortable he was, which annoyed me because I could never sleep. I remember watching him one day, in the back of that station wagon, while he slept. I suddenly wondered what would happen to his nose if I tweaked it. And so I reached over and tweaked his nose. Adam’s nose instantly turned into a faucet, with blood pouring out of both nostrils. He woke up immediately, put his hands to his nose, then looked at them, covered in blood. Before he could speak, I said, “I’m so sorry. Don’t tell Mom. Please don’t tell Mom. Here—this will stop it.” I handed him one of his socks. And watched as he opened his mouth and yelled, “Mommmmmm!” That day did not end well for me. But it’s a memory that makes me laugh every time I think of it—that moment when Adam woke up and realized what was happening. . . that was funny.
Doctors. Yes, doctors make me laugh, though I would never do it while they were watching. I had a doctor who is long since retired who had been my general practitioner for most of my life—so he knew about my migraines. Yet at every single visit, he’d ask me if I’d ever had a headache. He also enjoyed testing my reflexes more than an average doctor should. He’d use that little reflex hammer so hard that my shoes would fly off every time—and every time, my doctor would smile to himself with satisfaction. I’m pretty sure that he thought I was a very healthy person because my reflexes were so good. My current doctor is kind and caring and has never once tested my reflexes. But he did make me laugh the last time I saw him. I’d done some allergy testing, and he told me my results: “Renee, you’re allergic to cats.” He said it with such sadness, then asked if I would consider—I stopped him right there, thinking, No, Doctor. I will not consider whatever you were going to suggest. My boys are staying. In our bedroom. In my face. Wherever they want to be. I left his office, and went to Monty, who was waiting in the lobby. He said, “Well?” I said, “Turns out I’m allergic to cats.” And we laughed.
Facebook. Gifs, posts, memes—there are some funny things on Facebook. I have an aunt who normally posts pictures of owls and majestic birds as well as videos of cats and dogs. Those videos always make me smile. But it’s her occasional posts like the following that actually make me laugh out loud:
You’ll notice at the top of the picture that my aunt wrote, “Really? There’s a horse?” One of her friends commented, “I’ve been looking at this picture for an hour now, and I still can’t find the horse.”
Our boys. Our three cats provide me with endless entertainment, whether it’s something they’re doing or something Monty and I are saying to them. A few nights ago, we heard a ruckus on the stairs and went to see what the boys were doing. Mackin was on the stairs with a box on his head. Since our Mackin is afraid of everything, we went to help him. But as soon as we took the box off, he dove right back in. He looked like he was half cat/half box. And he was having so much fun. Yesterday, we got a new couch, and I walked into the living room to Monty saying, “Hey, Mackin, guess what? That’s a NO. I hope you enjoyed the one time you did that.” Mackin had been scratching the new couch. I’m sure he won’t do it anymore since Monty spoke to him in such harsh words.
Monty. He called our local restaurant a few days ago to place a lunch order for us. He always orders the chicken fiesta wrap. When the girl at the restaurant answered the phone, he said, “I’d like to order a Christian fiesta wrap.” There was a long pause before Monty said, “Chicken! Chicken! I’d like to order a chicken fiesta wrap.” I was standing there when he called, and I kept trying to picture what a Christian fiesta wrap would look like—maybe a wrap containing a tiny piñata of a cross?
Monty, TV shows, our cats, and the people in my life entertain me. And they remind me that life doesn’t have to be so serious—life should have way more laughter than tears. Once I start looking for the laughter, I find it everywhere. To quote my mom (whose phrases also make me laugh), life has more laughs “than Carter has little liver pills.” I’ll take her word for it.
“Laughter is an instant vacation.”Milton Berle
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Comments 12
Everyone has a story. If you just listen to them and sympathize but not say you understand you can quite often get them to trust in your advise and then they will start to accept the humor in your life and maybe relate it to theirs . I am surely not a therapist but listening and injecting humor at times is the best therapy. Then they may see the influence of Jesus in your life. That’s been my mission. Interject a smile in someone else’s face.
Hi, Steve! You’re very right. I’m learning that you have to establish a trust relationship between you and another person before humor becomes a part of it. Your mission is an important one, my friend–make someone smile. You certainly made me smile today–especially your comment about the horse.
I’m the horse!
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Thanks Renee loved this post and it certainly made me smile. I totally believe in laughter as the best medicine for almost everything! Yes there are serious times in our life but if we can’t laugh, we would not survive living it. I often have to laugh at myself, especially if I make a silly mistake and also often see humour where other’s can’t or won’t. One way I have fun is by making funny photo’s, especially when I am in Holland and then when I come back I make them into hilarious card collages to send back home. I also make them for birthdays, especially for my brother in law who can be as crazy as me when we get together. He waits for these cards every year and I never disappoint him. Last year I used his face and made him into a gnome on a big frog, leaping through the forest, complete with red hat and white beard! I was in stitches making it. Of course I also add various captions which I find in odd magazines, that somehow make funny claims about the personality of the person I make the card for. Best magazines for the captions are the BC wine and food magazines where the food and or wine is being praised with the most unusual captions, phrases or words. I keep a stack of them just for this purpose. Lastly, I also believe that Jesus frolics with us and has a sense of humor, He would want us to be happy children. There is a beautiful book on this called ” The river of God”. I somehow have misplaced it or given it away during the move, but it talks about Jesus frolicking in the river as he takes us deeper and deeper into the water ( Ezekiel). I think your Monty is a bit like my brother in law who is a comedian at heart and always comes up with the most unusual ways to have us in stitches.
Klara–I forgot about laughing at myself! That provides all kinds of entertainment! I would love to see the cards you make–great way to entertain yourself and the recipient. I truly never thought about or read about Jesus frolicking with us, but I love that thought. I’ll have to look it up. Thank you for giving me such a smile today, my friend.
I don’t recall giving permission to use my picture when I worked at that horse ranch, but I’ll let it slide this time… 🙂 Seriously, thanks for always making me laugh! A great way to start my day!
Monty–Have I ever gotten your permission?? Thank YOU for showing me that life isn’t so serious. Your laughter and levity are so good for me.
Renee, excellent. Laughter can “cure a lot of ills. Having recently been “converted” to an “I Love Lucy” addict (thanks, Renee), I; watching those old episodes, some of the most obvious “laugh/punch”, “tickle” my funny one, even more. Life is serious enough, we can dwell, obsess, about just about anything. But, everyone has a “key”. Lighten up. Read a joke book, watch “The Three Stooges”, in high school, my friends and I would “act out those silly scenes/stunts. We, thought we were so funny and amusing. Every now and one of those High School “cuties”, and one of m6 friends, myself included would end up with a Friday, and maybe a Saturday night date. One of m6 favorite “oldies”, A Smile is a Frown turned upside down. “Smiling Faces”. I could go on and on, My older Brother David anD I would play practical jokes on each other, silliness. But, a little more silliness, in the right situation, The World would be, Less uptight, and happier. Thanks Renee, @another great Blog..
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Harold–you’re right that life is serious enough. And I’m definitely a person who ruminates and dwells on things. It’s just so much easier to laugh! “Lucy” is a great way to do that, and I’m so glad you’re enjoying watching it. I have a great mental picture of you and your high school friends. I love this that you said, “A little more silliness, in the right situation–the world be less uptight and happier.” Definitely! Thanks for reading and commenting.
I’m right there with you Renee! I have forsaken misery for mirth! I chose happy over dispair. I cry at movies .. (Guys please don’t take my man card away.. I’m 64). Anyway being sad and worried is a choice. It’s a hard one to differentiate sometimes. There are time to concentrate on issues but you come up with your best .. Do it and be away with it. So very much in life is funny. If you just try to talk to people. Call them by name. Listen to them then make a small joke. Then a little more. Next thing you know they smile when you walk up. It’s a good feeling. Trust me.
Steve–you’re right–it IS a good feeling. I’m just getting used to it! I like your sentence, “I have forsaken misery for mirth.” That’s exactly what I’m trying to do. Thank you for once again reading my words and adding your insight. I appreciate you being such a faithful reader.