Laughter, the best medicine

I just want to say one thing right at the top here, before I get into my actual topic. I am a firm believer in personal indivduality and expression whatever form it takes. I don't want to live in a cookie cutter world, with cookie cutter people who have cookie cutter ideas. (I do however wish I lived in a world where all schools required uniforms - but that's a rant for a different time)

That said and personal freedoms being upheld, I reserve the right to laugh at or with people who choose to express themselves in a bizarre, oops I forgot to look in the mirror today kind of way. Or even those (especially those) who DID look in the mirror and despite what was actually there, said "Damn I look good this way. I think I'll go outside now." Now, Iknow the interface between brain and mirror can be deceiving, or else there would be no anorexia to name just one instance. But really people. Maybe you could ask someone else if they think you've got it going on before you actually put the keys in the ignition and head out into places with strangers.

On second thought, don't. Its too damn amusing to the rest of us and the the world needs more laughter. Everyone says so. Especially those nice, save the world types. So in fact you are creating joy and harmony in the world's population. A noble, noble cause without doubt.

This weekend at the Concert in the Park, featured the worlds loudest zydeco band (I'm not sure they're billed that way but as a safety precaution they should have been) and I experienced lots of world saving laughter . First came the butt crack of a 20 something who sat down on the ground in front of me, in pants that were so low waisted she couldn't have NOT showed her butt crack even while standing in line for funnel cake, and yet, when my sister (who is more kindly than me or the other 15 people in our row) got up and told her, the girl seemed geniunly surprised. Really? You didn't feel the sunburn starting on parts that, unless you're Brazilian, rarely get sun? Or the tickle of the grass, in your actual butt?

Then there was the 60 something, overweight clown lady. Now I don't want to be too mean to her because honestly she seemed genuinly excited about her outfit and since she walked by holding up a banner once in a while she was obviously doing it as attention getting advertisment. And it worked. She got my attention. I don't however, remember what the banner said so I don't know what she was advertising, but I do remember her. Suffice it to say that she upped the worlds joy in tangible amounts.

Then comes my favorite. The giant man in tie-dye and a red felt Viking helmet. He absolutely falls in the category of "Damn I look good in this. I think I'll go outside now". Bald, 6'5" or taller, and probably 375 pounds, he wore his blue, yellow, green and red tie-dye with confidence, and sported the too small, red felt pointy Viking helmet perched on the very tippy top of his head. So full of confidence was he that he walked up in front of us all and sat very straight in his very tall chair, obscuring the view of the worlds loudest zydeco band (although sadly, not the sounds) and allowed us all the pleasure of continuous viewing of the brightly colored mountain of himself. I did notice a wedding ring on his finger and yet he was by himself. Somewhere in Santa Clarita was a woman hiding in her house with a pint of ice cream, mumbling to herself in defeat.

So you see, not only do I support personal expression, I love it, even though I know that on some days I provide just as much joy and laughter to others as they do to me.

Because not only will laughter save the world, but laughter is also the Best Medicine. (And the Reader's Digest is never wrong!)