Friday, February 20, 2009

THE BEST MEDICINE

As you all well know, one of my New Year's resolutions was to laugh more.

I am a pretty fair laugher, if I do say so myself, but gone were the days when I nearly wet my pants, I was laughing so hard.

Gone were the days when I laughed so hard liquids came out my nose.

Gone were the days when I had to leave ceremonies and events because if I didn't, I'd be very embarrassed (think: Pez episode on "Seinfeld").

And damn, did I miss those days.

Ran into a couple very funny friends at a school fundraiser, of all places (I, at least, do not think funny, when thinking school fundraiser), and we got to laughing. Decided we needed to make a time to get together and laugh, laugh, laugh.

"Wear a pad!" Funny Friend #1 said.

I chuckled each time I just saw the date on my calendar.

Yesterday I got together with Funny Friends 1 & 2, and laugh we did.

Probably the biggest laugh came when we were discussing our middle-aged bodies, and the gravitational pull on certain once-perky parts.

"I just tell my husband, 'Those are my boobs, just kick 'em out of your way,'" Funny Friend #2 said.

I'm shaking with laughter all over again, just remembering how funny it was when she said it.

Because we are all busy and time is scarce, we only had 1 1/2 hours together before we had to go get our kids. Three funny women with 9 kids between us, lots going on, active, crazy lives, and lots to talk about.

So yes, we laughed, and it felt great. Really, really great.

But we also got right to the heart of lots of topics that aren't always funny: marriage, aging, pro-choice vs. pro-life, adoption, birth parents vs. adoptive parents, family loyalties, siblings, special needs children, "advanced maternal age" babies, etc., etc., etc.

And none of that is inherently funny.

Unless it is.

You know the expression, "This will all be funny someday?"

I've decided today is that day.

I've got a pad on, too, just in case.


* Photo from pro.corbis.com

14 comments:

Angie Ledbetter said...

Best medicine, fer shure! (May your pads be maxi & winged, and filled quite often...til you have to move to Depends.) :)

Wanda said...

Ah...laughter.

Next month I get to take a trip to Canada with my sister and SO. Another friend said she ought to call the Canadian authorities and tell them we are coming. I said, "We'll just be standing in the aisle of a store somewhere with our legs crossed trying not to wet ourselves while we are laughing so hard we can't breathe."

Those will be the days.

Robin said...

There is nothing like the "church giggles" to make you feel alive.

contemporary themes said...

FUNNY FRIEND #4 is about to send you some funny articles. Keep your pad on!

Anonymous said...

that's a lot of ground to cover in half an hour!

"And none of that is inherently funny.

Unless it is."

I love that. When we have the security and comfort of people who we feel safe with, there is no greater luxury than allowing ourselves to find the funny.

Yuck it up sister!

Jerri said...

Love the resolution. Love that you're keeping it. Love that I'm alone on the pad thing.

Lola said...

This is a 'best post ever.'!!!!!
Can't wait to 'Pez' with you!

Amber said...

This is the best. I have been talking with some of my old funny friends again, and the laughing feel like medicine.

:)

kario said...

Love you!
Love this.
I can hear your unique laugh right now in my head.

Looking forward to hearing it "live" soon.

Deb Shucka said...

Your laugh and your ability to make me laugh are among the things I love best about you.

Anonymous said...

You use to make me roll all the way to the kappa house on Monday nights.

Drama Mama said...

I wish I could get the chance to make you snot or pee...

Ask Me Anything said...

ahhh, pure bliss

Nancy said...

Seems the older we get, the more there is to laugh at! Love this post.