Let’s have some laughs

Let’s bring some light-heartedness into this space. I feel like there is too much heaviness impacting our lives and psyches right now. So, here goes:

A friend of mine told me about his 5-year-old granddaughter being very upset about the dinner his daughter was putting on the table one evening. When her mom asked her what was wrong, she explained she’d thought because it was a special day with her brother having the day off from school, they’d be going out or having burgers. Her mom asked her why burgers were the expectation. The exasperated toddler replied: “Because it’s Martin Burger King Day.”

I read this in “Reader’s Digest” years and years ago before flat screen LED televisions were invented: A little boy was sitting smack dab in front of the television. His mom scolded him and had him move away from the TV, explaining that sitting too close to the TV could cause him to become sterile. The dad popped up, left the room and came back with the family cat and plopped it down in front of the TV.

Honestly, I think the sterilization and “you’ll go blind” excuses were what parents came up with to get their kids to move because they were blocking their view of the television.

My son went through a brief phase in junior high (middle school) where he would have a big bowl of cereal right before he went to bed. We ate a good dinner, so I knew he couldn’t be that hungry. After the third evening of this behavior, I asked him why he was eating again at night. “I’m having breakfast now so I can sleep later in the morning before getting up for school.” Teenager logic.

When I was little, my mom used to end most of her phone conversations (back when it was landlines and corded phones) with: “I’ll give you a ring.” Since she was doling out jewelry to so many people, I remember wishing she’d give me a ring, too. Speaking of jewelry, my grandmother had those glass, gem-shaped doorknobs on her interior doors. I thought my grandma was rich because she had diamond doorknobs. Well, Grandma Miller had a very regal bearing, diamond doorknobs or not.

My brother was a great kidder. He loved to make people laugh and had an awesome from-the-belly laugh himself. Here’s one of my favorites among his pranks: My sister’s family and my brother used to do a lot of camping together. They liked one little campground with a lake the best. At the swimming beach, they would go way out into the water with lawn chairs, placing them underwater so when they sat down the water came up to their necks. Well, my brother started jerking and splashing and went under. He came up splashing, yelled “Shark!” and collapsed back down into the water. Then he popped back up out of the water and turned around. Everyone was out of the water, staring in horror toward my brother, who busted out laughing. Mind you, this is a freshwater lake in Iowa.

That should at least merit a smile, maybe a hearty guffaw. I hope that jump-started your funny bone and you are inspired to tell a few jokes to others today. Exercise those cheek muscles. Grin. It’ll make people wonder what you’re up to.