Laughter, the Universal language.

“A laugh is a smile that bursts.”

"The person who knows how to laugh at himself will never cease to be amused.”

“An optimist laughs to forget, a pessimist forgets to laugh.”

“That is the best - to laugh with someone because you both think the same things are funny.”

Songwriters, poets and authors have always talked about the importance of laughter.

Life, Love & Laughter

Lyrics by Donavon Frankenreiter

I’m lookin for life, love and laughter
Everything in between and what happens after
I’m lookin for life, love and laughter
Everything in between and what happens after
Lookin for laughter

"Humor is infectious. The sound of roaring laughter is far more contagious than any cough, sniffle, or sneeze. When laughter is shared, it binds people together and increases happiness and intimacy. In addition to the domino effect of joy and amusement, laughter also triggers healthy physical changes in the body. Humor and laughter strengthen your immune system, boost your energy, diminish pain, and protect you from the damaging effects of stress. Best of all, it's fun, free, and easy."

We all gravitate to people that make us laugh because it's truly as important as breathing and eating. Life is hectic and stressful, so when we don't nurture it as we should, it's inevitable we find ourselves feeling tired and down.

Dad always said that if you didn't have at least one belly laugh a day, you've wasted a day. He was right, and he was brilliant at finding humor in negative situations.

If financial stress was the issue at hand, his saying was "Baby, they're circling. Build a bigger fire around camp."  When he was sick, I'd ask him how he was doing. His answer was always the same "I'm one day better baby. One day better."

Dad had  funny little phrases for just about everything. When assessing a dining table full of Southern food, he'd say, "C'mon children, let's eat to keep our fat up."

He called every driver on the road Herman. One time I was in the passenger seat with dad driving. (He was a terrible driver) I said, "Daddy, watch out, there's a Mack truck coming at us!" As he made a left turn in front of the truck, he said, "It's okay honey, it's on your side. BACK OFF HERMAN!" We laughed until we were sore.

Dad's example for turning things around helps me constantly try to find humor even on the darkest days.

In High School, I was sent to the principal's office on a VERY regular basis for laughing in class.

I had one teacher that put up with me if something funny struck me, but the rest of them had me walk that familiar path straight to Father Mescal's (the principal's) office.    Every time I knocked on that door, I simply said, "It's me Father." He knew my voice well. All I had to do is sit there until the next period. Most of the time I was accompanied by one of my friends...always Fran or Nancy (sometimes all three of us)  and occasionally I would get someone else in trouble.

I was a decent student, but I was much more interested in the social benefits of school. That to me was much more fun and important. In my Junior year, it was time for my final exam in French. I was clueless. I looked at that test, recognized about 5 words on the questionnaire, and knew it was time for a plan of action. I flipped my paper over, drew a picture and wrote my teacher a note on the front of the test :

Mrs. Schneider,

I have been in your class for 2 years and still don't know a word of French. I drew you a sketch on the back of this test because I'm much better at art than I am foreign language. I hope you'll grade me on that instead of French because as you can see, I didn't answer any questions.

Thanks, Kathy Cash

A couple of days later she handed us our "completed" tests with our grade results.

I held my breath expecting a huge fat "F" on my paper. After getting up the nerve to look, I was surprised to see a big "D-".  (I PASSED?...wow. Maybe she appreciates art. No. Maybe she liked my drawing? I doubt it.)  I knew it wasn't because she got a laugh out of it. She had no sense of humor. None. At all.

I waited for everyone to leave until I made my way to her desk. She glared at me for what seemed like the thousandth time, and waited for me to initiate the conversation. "ER, Mrs. Schneider. Thank you for passing me on the test, but why didn't you fail me?" Her eyes seemed to stare right through me and in her broken French - English accent said very sternly, "MISS CASH, I have tried to teach you for 2 years. I passed you because I cannot take one more year of you!"  I politely thanked her and got out of her classroom as quickly as possible.

Fran and Nancy were waiting outside the room impatiently waiting to find out what happened. I couldn't help it. I started laughing uncontrollably about the ridiculous attempt I made, but more about the fact that it worked!

Evidently Mrs. Schneider wasn't hard of hearing. I continued to get many more glares from her the rest of my high school days.

I recently took a much needed trip back to California where I was raised and attended school.

( When you're raised Catholic, you basically go to school with the same people from Kindergarten until you graduate.) We were a very small community then.  When you have a special connection like that,  re-connecting  has been important to me, especially these last few years.

I laughed until my sides and jaws hurt. I had a great time, loved spending time with my long time friends and I even slept better than I have in years.

It was a healing trip for me.

"Laughter is the shock absorber that eases the blows of life."

Think about that. It REALLY IS a shock absorber, and it DOES ease life's blows.

I wish you love and LAUGHTER every day.

~Kathy