Laughter Is the Best Thing Since Sliced Bread

Face muscle soreness, shortness of breath, redden face, tears streaming out of the eyes, mucus running out of the nose, coughing, bladder threatening to release urine, and stomach muscle achiness.  Does this sound like fun to you?  When the traits of laughter are presented, it appears rather odd that I love to laugh.  Maybe the joy of laughter is generational.

My grandmother would be scolded by my grandfather when she laughed.  Her asthma flared with whizzing and coughing.   As a result of a good hearty laugh, my grandfather would need to wheel out my grandmother’s Nebulizer for her to use so her breath regulated.  While she used the machine,  he lectured her and she told him to be quiet because the laugh was worth the discomfort.  In response, he would shake his head in puzzlement.   Of course, I was not immune to his disgust since I was the one egging the laughter.

My mother and I nervously would be unable to stop laughing despite the inappropriateness of the timing.   For example, when I was a teenager living at home, my mother wanted a heavy recliner chair moved upstairs from the downstairs family-room.  In the process, the chair got stuck in the stairway and we could not budge the bulky piece with all of our might.  In turn — we were stuck holding the heavy piece.  The giggles began.  Each other’s laughter became infectious to the other and the harder we tried to stop — the more we laughed.   At the same time, we claimed our need to run to the bathroom but neither one of us could hold the furniture by herself.   Let’s just say, the bladders were the motivator to quickly as possible figure out a solution to the quandary.

Like my grandmother and mother,  I believe nothing beats a good laugh to feel better, to enhance a connection with family and friends, and boost the mood.