Books offer healthy dose of laughter—November 11, 2011
“Laughter is the best medicine.” The truth of that quote can be proven by observing people around you. People who get their daily dose of Vitamin “H” seem healthier than the ones whose somber expressions invite sympathy. Fortunately, for most people, laughter is a welcome antidote to stress, but be careful! It seems to be contagious. One person lets a little giggle escape and before you know it, every nearby face is tear stained and glowing. In the process, the whole body gets a happy pill. One psychologist says that “The Gift of Laughter Is A Tool For A Lifetime of Success”.
All kinds of things can cause a fit of laughter, of course, but books allow you relive the humor again and again. Some titles are enough to activate the funny bone, such as DAVE BARRY’S MONEY SECRETS: LIKE, WHY IS THERE A GIANT EYEBALL ON THE DOLLAR? Or RACE YOU TO THE FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH; I’M NOT DEAD YET, BUT PARTS OF ME ARE GOING FAST by Martha Bolton.
One regular patron recommended Nora Epron whose selections include I REMEMBER NOTHING AND OTHER REFLECTIONS and I FEEL BAD ABOUT MY NECK. I STILL HAVE IT…I JUST CAN’T REMEMBER WHERE I PUT IT by Rita Rudner proved to be an irresistible title. These authors write about life’s little irritations and embarrassments, which causes at least some readers to utter, “uh, that happened to me”, with a little chuckle. As I was reluctantly slipping away from a collection of funny books including HUMOR FOR A WOMAN”S HEART, which includes essays by several funny ladies, I realized that these writers have chosen to RELAX and LET GO of the tension which goes along with obsessing over every action.
Baby Boomers can probably recall the days of black and white TV with Lucille Ball feigning innocence over her constant mishaps causing endless chaos and hysterical laughter from the audience. It was the same with the affable Red Skeleton whose talent provided families with a chance to enjoy light-hearted programming and fill their memories with fun. The Three Stooges’ constant attacks on one another along with the sounds which accompanied every action were so silly and yet so funny. Patrons can relive the humor of characters by checking out DVDs featuring these and other comics.
Learn to laugh at yourself and realize that whether they admit it or not, most people have “stupid attacks”. So what if you are the one in the middle of the church on a busy Sunday with toilet paper streaming from your waistband? You can smack your forehead and cringe or realize that you may have created a smile or two.
At HPL, we’d like to fill your prescriptions for Laughs and the refills are always free!
