HUMOUR TELLS US ABOUT OURSELVES

In a clinical assessment, a sense of humour is an important indicator of mood. It is a strength. There is no joking around when discussing serious illness initially. When a relationship is established relaxing and sharing a joke with laughing  brings depth to the situation. A tense meeting or dinner party can benefit from some laughter! Depressed people do not laugh! A good marriage needs jovial times! Even some comments made on my blog show the sense of humour of the individuals! Being able to take a joke and laugh at ourselves allows for constructive criticism positively! Children laugh their heads off at times at the silliest things! It is why grandparents find them lots of fun! A reminder life is too short not to laugh occasionally- at least once daily! Different cultures laugh at different things! Men have their own jokes. Most women laugh at men's bad habits- if they want to remain sane!!There is a difference of making fun of someone and having a good chuckle. Put down sarcasm is not humour! So have you laughed today? Did you tell a good and tasteful joke? Do you laugh in your relationship? Do you put some fun in your day? I remember the Barrie tornado- one couple who had lost their home, put up a sign- Gone with the Wind! What an indicator they were going to get through their tremendous loss!!

WRITING THE FAMILY EULOGY

How to summarize someone's life is a major endeavor. A little history, some favourite activities, some humourous but not off colour stories, and the emotional piece kept in check. Including family that can not get up to speak but honouring them as well. Have you ever had to write the eulogy and present at a loved one's funeral? I had the honour to talk about my Mom. Rest in peace, Momsie!

SOME SIGNS MAKE US SMILE

I could not resist taking a picture of this sign on one of our summer country jaunts. Someone with a sense of humour must have made it. I remember after the Barrie Tornado in 1985, one family who lost their home put up a sign saying- GONE WITH THE WIND! I felt they were going to survive okay. As I don't know that I would have found anything funny about the situation!
If you could make a funny sign what would it say? Would you use an interesting picture?

HE MAKES ME LAUGH

Marriage can have a high survival rate when there is not only love but laughter. During our 25th wedding anniversary trip to Italy in 1996, we planned to stay in Rome enjoying all the sites visited previously and seeing new ones. This story is one of the funniest from that beloved holiday.
Adolph's cousin Lillina who lives and works in Rome, booked a small hotel away from the city center through a friend for a reasonable rate. We checked in at night since we had spent our first day in Adolph's hometown of Cassino, most of the second day with Lillina, dinner at her place then to the hotel.
As his usual holiday habit, Adolph rose at 5:00 a.m., left the hotel to explore the neighbourhood and to bring coffee, buns and juice back for me. I rushed to get up at 6:00 a.m., washed, dressed, then spent time organizing the room. By 7:30 a.m. I started to question where he might be.
Shortly afterwards, he appeared looking worried with no buns and a half cup of coffee. "I got lost", he said.
He told me of his tale. He went to Piazza Unghiere-piazzas usually have many streets that converge together. He bought the coffee, juice, powdered buns for us, started to eat and drink not noticing he was taking the wrong street to return to our hotel-Porpora Villas. He walked down one street then another, eating, drinking, spilling juice, and some of the powdered sugar on his top.
Finally deciding to ask a Bar Owner- bar in Italy usually is a coffee shop- for some directions. In Italian he stated, "I can't find my hotel." The man said "okay!" What is the name of your hotel?"" Well I don't know" says Adolph. "Okay!" " What is the name of the street for your hotel?" Adolph replied again, " I don't know!"
The man surveyed him with his arms full of half-eaten goodies, food spills on his clothes, looking a little disheveled. " You don't know the name of the Hotel. You don't know the name of the street. Are you sure your hotel isn't that Clinic across the street!"

Travel brings so many opportunities for life long memories. We still laugh together about not only this story but others from trips shared.
What are your favourite travel stories? Is there a destination you would love to visit again?