Make 'Em Laugh

I was born serious. Fortunately for me, I was born into a funny family. My Dad can deliver an infinite number of jokes with aplomb. He has a keen insight into human nature and shrewd sense of wit about it. He was swiping at corporate America well before Dilbert. When he and his working buddies get together, there isn't anything funnier.

My Mom can't tell a joke to save her life which somehow makes every joke she attempts to tell even funnier. She has a room-filling laugh that comes from her very depths. She is easily embarrassed which makes for lots of laughter on the part of other family members. Don't let her near the horseradish, if it gets up her nose, she will react in a way that causes the rest of us to fall out of our seats!

My brother is arguably the funniest in the family. He was born with a gift of humor and has a charismatic personality that lets him get away with a lot. He is not above Elvis impersonations or creating and performing Chuck Berry dives into his pool. There isn't a bad joke that is too bad for him. His smart play on words leaves me spinning.

My sister has a dry wit that makes me belly laugh. While going through life difficulties, she can make fun of herself and her situation in a way that brings me to tears. Here "glass is half empty" humor can quickly cut to the truth that life is really wonder-full.

I see myself as the appreciator of humor in my first family. I love to laugh and really appreciate those who have a gift and talent for wit. It is similar to the fact that I don't play an instrument but I love to listen to music. What would all these funny people do without someone to laugh at their good humor?

My first family and I have gone through many a difficult struggle. By all rights, we shouldn't be united in love and friendship today. But we are. When I think about why this is true, I pinpoint several of the usual suspects such as prayer (thanks Mom,) desire to work things out individually and collectively, and patience over the long haul. Right up there and not to be overlooked is our ability to laugh together.