That Ain’t Funny! Is it?
That Ain’t Funny! Is it?
No one likes being laughed at, or made the bud of harsh jokes and mean humor. But it’s my opinion that we as a society take each other way too seriously and are way too uptight! That’s why I try to find humor in almost everything I do.
Even in the most intense and sad moments of my life, I naturally try to lighten the load by intentionally injecting laughter, even if they’re cheap, stupid, corny, or nay I say it… childish jokes, laughter defuses almost any situation!
As I stood last year in front of more than 100 people at my father’s funeral, I presented my well prepared eulogy. I suffered over it for days. I needed to convey the greatness of this man in a way that would not sound pandering or exaggerated. I needed to say goodbye in my own way, and yet be true to the man. Both my sisters had wrecked me with their orations and salutes to Dad. Then came my turn.
As I recited my impassioned eloquence, I looked up and I could feel the eyeballs boring into me like drills. The quiet was deafening and the attention was intense. The sorrow in the room was palpable. I quickly shifted the direction of my prepared words and inserted a joke I had planned for later in the talk.
The hall exploded in roars. Wave after wave of laughter started in the front and made their ways to the back and then the cycle repeated itself. I resumed my words which again and delved deep into morose and melancholy attributions. And again I slipped in a well crafted joke.
Yes, even in the midst of the most serious presentation of my life I made a gathering release their sorrow by laughing in the spirit of the man.
That ain’t funny! Is it?
The question is posed because in this era which Comedian Bill Maher aptly calls “Politically Incorrect” people think they’re so serious and are afraid to laugh. Well we’re not so serious and the sooner we can embrace more laughter, more humor, and more levity, the sooner this place will become a bit nicer.
I was a college student in Boston. It was a rainy day. Not just rainy, RAINY! Swimming pools of water dropped out of the sky every minute. I was growing gills as I stroked down the street.
As I waited at a corner for the light to turn green a city bus made a right turn in front of me deluging me with a literal tidal wave of gutter water. The wave enveloped my entire body including my open umbrella. I was drenched and could not be wetter if I was in the tub.
I began yelling and shouting and shaking my fist at the bus, now down the street and probably completely unaware of what happened. This made me even angrier and my howls echoed down a flooding Boston intersection.
Suddenly, as quickly as I enraged, I began laughing hysterically as I imagined what the sight must have looked like to onlookers or drivers passing by. I laughed and skipped the rest of the way back to my dorm where like a basset hound, I shook off my soaking exterior and sloshed to my room. It’s been thirty plus years and this story still makes me laugh. I wonder if it’s somewhere on Youtube?
Besides, laughing extends life spans. It’s been scientifically proven (No, I’m not citing studies) that laughter increases respiration and improves blood flow. In fact, there are medical centers including the one founded by noted physician Patch Adams that use laughter, dance, and creativity to stimulate healing and improve general health.
In summation, start laughing some more. If you can’t find anything funny to laugh at, start by looking in the mirror. That’ ain’t funny! Is it?
Michael J. Herman is a Professional Writer, book author, and motivational speaker.