Interesting. My wife of 36 years doesn't much make me laugh, and my jokes just make her groan. She's Japanese and we talk to each other in Japanese, so maybe that's part of it. Japanese people do laugh a lot, but laugh differently.
Thanks for sharing your experience, John. I've often wondered how a sense of humor was affected in cross-cultural marriages like yours. I have several close Japanese friends, and your observation does accurately describe them.
Excellent article. During my 30 years of training adults, I have found spontaneous humor to be a powerful way to connect people. I am not talking about telling jokes. I am talking about laughter that rises unexpectedly out of the group. Laughter brings people together.
Mardy, your quotation on laughter was the funniest one of all. Reminded me of the line that politicians are a lot like diapers. They need to be changed often, and for the same reason. Keep smiling.
Oh Boy. You get this week's Sitting Ovation Mardy!!! Loved this one this morning. Reading it while still horizontal, I jumped up when I realized that I have an actual copy of one of Cerf's books on my shelf. (Out on a Limerick). And then I remembered something else but I wasn't sure I was remembering right. I wonder if you know him (of course you do, you know 'em all!!). Ogden Nash and the title is 'The Golden Trashery of Ogden Nashery'.........I Googled it and learned that my brain still retained an accurate ability to recall real stuff! In case readers don't know who he is, let me refresh your memory. He's the guy who gave us 'Candy is dandy..but liquor is quicker'. On another note, years ago while discussing relationships (married or platonic), I asked a group of female students what they looked for in a life partner. I had expected them to talk about economics, intelligence, ability to provide material possessions that a partner would bring, etc.....but overwhelmingly, most of them rose above that level of thinking and replied 'What I want most in a relationship, is a guy who will make me laugh.' I strongly agree. And there's a whole long list of men who make me laugh...Danny Kaye tops my list followed closely by Mel Brooks. I would have loved to know them... Thanks Mardy. I just sent a copy of your observation of the week to a friend who works for the UN and is currently 'stationed' in Gaza. I don't ask him about his work, I just try to send him something to make him smile daily.
Thanks, my dear Arlene; your comment made my day. I love Ogden Nash as well, but the truth is that I was not aware of his "Golden Trashery" book! Believe me, I'll be checking it out soon. Thanks also for spreading the word!
wow - LOVED THIS WEEK'S TOPIC!! Found myself smiling thru-out. Could comment on so much...
what brings automatic smiles/laughter - many things --- ie: babies giggling, & husband's computer is across from mine & he'll see me smiling & say, questioningly "kitties or doggies?" (I don't care for slap-stick comedy nor anything that makes fun of others)
We play games often w/ friends & it can't be serious, gotta have conversation & laughs. I also have a group of a dozen friends over once a month for afternoon games. ALWAYS laughing, which husband comments on when they leave (he's in another part of the house & can hear us!).
but this quote from your post today:
"“A sense of humor does not just reflect intelligence—it is intelligence dancing.”
current husband & I met on-line. In my profile, part of my criteria of what I was looking for (based on what I missed from my previous ex) was the person had to have a sense of humor & love to dance. And my husband has the BEST sense of humor!!!!! And we dance at least every week 😁
Thanks for weighing in, dj. I'm delighted to hear that you loved the post. I've always suspected you were a laugh-lover, and your comment this week proves that you are. I also loved that "intelligence dancing" quote, and discovered it only this past week as I was working on the post.
Love the subject Mardy! Thank you! There was a scene in Schindler’s list that always stuck with me. It was a group of men having arrived IN the concentration camp (not yet aware of their fate) gathered in a circle joking around and laughing. It is in our nature….in the best and worst of our times. A temporary relief valve.
If you can make people laugh, likely you're interesting. To hold one's attention, you'd better be interesting, and/or say interesting things. Adding humor to any talk makes it more interesting- but you'll need a filter. That's where the art is. Both party's need to understand and buy into the humor.
The first words I spoke to Jack, even before we met, were, "Hey, you sot! Are we going to play or what?" I was sitting at the keyboard waiting for him to give the downbeat, and I looked over to see him with his head back, guzzling a can of beer. Our relationship was started with laughter and continues to this day. Oh, and I agree with Michael -- your quote was the best.
The humor in your post today has successfully changed the baby's diaper and provided welcome relief. Invoking a recent DM topic, I appreciate you and your weekly efforts to make better. And I'll tag onto Arlene's Sitting Ovation Award. Sunday morning, by the fire, reading your offerings is a wonderful way to start the day. I get that it's a lot of work to deliver a first class post. Thanks for all your efforts.
We play volleyball with a beach ball and a homemade floating net in the pool of the retirement community where I live. It is great exercise but the best part is the laughing!! How great to have it confirmed that the laughing is an important part of the whole experience!!
Mardy, you hit it outta the park again today!! I was going to say something about the diaper and politicians, but several others beat me to it.
I also just realized that on Sunday mornings, right after I read the newspaper (yes, they still have those things, but most are mere shadows of what they were pre-Internet/unsocial media), I immediately go to my email and read your weekly missive. I usually get a quick pick-me-up. Today was a bonus picker upper.
It was a "chuckle central." That's good for me because last week my wife (of 42+ years) fell and broke her arm. Laughter and chuckles are needed to augment the meds and dark clouds. Won't know if we can leave for our summer trip until later in the week after she sees the doctor for a follow-up. Not looking good, but fingers crossed.
Thanks, my friend. I enjoying doing the post, and have been pleasantly surprised by how well it's been received--especially my final thought. I'm honored that you look forward to reading the newsletter every week. Sorry to hear about your wife's accident, but glad you're finding some humor in it.
Ah yes, a classic. But I really love how Stephen Colbert tweaked it in an Entertainment Weekly interview on Jan. 4, 2007 : "Laughter is the best medicine. But it’s more than that. It’s an entire regime of antibiotics and steroids. Laughter brings the swelling down on our national psyche, and then applies an antibiotic cream."
is like changing a baby's diaper. It doesn't permanently resolve the issue, but it provides
invaluable temporary relief."
Once again, Mardy, you have leapfrogged over all your famous quotes and offered the best of all. I think I could use a refresher in laughing while we slog through these dark days. Thank you, Mardy, for doing way more than your share.
Interesting. My wife of 36 years doesn't much make me laugh, and my jokes just make her groan. She's Japanese and we talk to each other in Japanese, so maybe that's part of it. Japanese people do laugh a lot, but laugh differently.
Thanks for sharing your experience, John. I've often wondered how a sense of humor was affected in cross-cultural marriages like yours. I have several close Japanese friends, and your observation does accurately describe them.
Excellent article. During my 30 years of training adults, I have found spontaneous humor to be a powerful way to connect people. I am not talking about telling jokes. I am talking about laughter that rises unexpectedly out of the group. Laughter brings people together.
Mardy, your quotation on laughter was the funniest one of all. Reminded me of the line that politicians are a lot like diapers. They need to be changed often, and for the same reason. Keep smiling.
Thanks, Michael. To be honest, that quotation about politicians never even entered my mind. Thanks for making the connection!
For added chuckles, check out Canada's famous silent comedy routines called "Just for Laughs."
Will do!
Loved your analogy about changing diapers, Mardy! It mad me laugh!
Thanks, Nick. My wife didn't particularly like it, so I was wondering how others would receive it. So far, so good.
Oh Boy. You get this week's Sitting Ovation Mardy!!! Loved this one this morning. Reading it while still horizontal, I jumped up when I realized that I have an actual copy of one of Cerf's books on my shelf. (Out on a Limerick). And then I remembered something else but I wasn't sure I was remembering right. I wonder if you know him (of course you do, you know 'em all!!). Ogden Nash and the title is 'The Golden Trashery of Ogden Nashery'.........I Googled it and learned that my brain still retained an accurate ability to recall real stuff! In case readers don't know who he is, let me refresh your memory. He's the guy who gave us 'Candy is dandy..but liquor is quicker'. On another note, years ago while discussing relationships (married or platonic), I asked a group of female students what they looked for in a life partner. I had expected them to talk about economics, intelligence, ability to provide material possessions that a partner would bring, etc.....but overwhelmingly, most of them rose above that level of thinking and replied 'What I want most in a relationship, is a guy who will make me laugh.' I strongly agree. And there's a whole long list of men who make me laugh...Danny Kaye tops my list followed closely by Mel Brooks. I would have loved to know them... Thanks Mardy. I just sent a copy of your observation of the week to a friend who works for the UN and is currently 'stationed' in Gaza. I don't ask him about his work, I just try to send him something to make him smile daily.
Thanks, my dear Arlene; your comment made my day. I love Ogden Nash as well, but the truth is that I was not aware of his "Golden Trashery" book! Believe me, I'll be checking it out soon. Thanks also for spreading the word!
wow - LOVED THIS WEEK'S TOPIC!! Found myself smiling thru-out. Could comment on so much...
what brings automatic smiles/laughter - many things --- ie: babies giggling, & husband's computer is across from mine & he'll see me smiling & say, questioningly "kitties or doggies?" (I don't care for slap-stick comedy nor anything that makes fun of others)
We play games often w/ friends & it can't be serious, gotta have conversation & laughs. I also have a group of a dozen friends over once a month for afternoon games. ALWAYS laughing, which husband comments on when they leave (he's in another part of the house & can hear us!).
but this quote from your post today:
"“A sense of humor does not just reflect intelligence—it is intelligence dancing.”
current husband & I met on-line. In my profile, part of my criteria of what I was looking for (based on what I missed from my previous ex) was the person had to have a sense of humor & love to dance. And my husband has the BEST sense of humor!!!!! And we dance at least every week 😁
Thanks for weighing in, dj. I'm delighted to hear that you loved the post. I've always suspected you were a laugh-lover, and your comment this week proves that you are. I also loved that "intelligence dancing" quote, and discovered it only this past week as I was working on the post.
Husband just got up & I read the quote to him
“A sense of humor does not just reflect intelligence—it is intelligence dancing.”
& he smiled & immediately said, "you say I dance funny, huh"... 😏
Thanks, dj. Proof positive that he has a sense of humor!
Love the subject Mardy! Thank you! There was a scene in Schindler’s list that always stuck with me. It was a group of men having arrived IN the concentration camp (not yet aware of their fate) gathered in a circle joking around and laughing. It is in our nature….in the best and worst of our times. A temporary relief valve.
Thanks, Manisha. I had forgotten about that scene, so I appreciate your reminding me of it.
If you can make people laugh, likely you're interesting. To hold one's attention, you'd better be interesting, and/or say interesting things. Adding humor to any talk makes it more interesting- but you'll need a filter. That's where the art is. Both party's need to understand and buy into the humor.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I'm in complete agreement.
The first words I spoke to Jack, even before we met, were, "Hey, you sot! Are we going to play or what?" I was sitting at the keyboard waiting for him to give the downbeat, and I looked over to see him with his head back, guzzling a can of beer. Our relationship was started with laughter and continues to this day. Oh, and I agree with Michael -- your quote was the best.
You and Jack are both very fortunate to have found each other! Also glad to hear you appreciated my final quote.
The humor in your post today has successfully changed the baby's diaper and provided welcome relief. Invoking a recent DM topic, I appreciate you and your weekly efforts to make better. And I'll tag onto Arlene's Sitting Ovation Award. Sunday morning, by the fire, reading your offerings is a wonderful way to start the day. I get that it's a lot of work to deliver a first class post. Thanks for all your efforts.
Thanks for your heartwarming words, Jack. You've been a subscriber for many, many years, and it's been wonderful having you along for the ride.
What a treat this week!! A joy to read!
We play volleyball with a beach ball and a homemade floating net in the pool of the retirement community where I live. It is great exercise but the best part is the laughing!! How great to have it confirmed that the laughing is an important part of the whole experience!!
Thank you!!!
Thanks for your kind words, Barbara. Even better than the laughter of kids at play is the laughter of seniors at play!
Mardy, you hit it outta the park again today!! I was going to say something about the diaper and politicians, but several others beat me to it.
I also just realized that on Sunday mornings, right after I read the newspaper (yes, they still have those things, but most are mere shadows of what they were pre-Internet/unsocial media), I immediately go to my email and read your weekly missive. I usually get a quick pick-me-up. Today was a bonus picker upper.
It was a "chuckle central." That's good for me because last week my wife (of 42+ years) fell and broke her arm. Laughter and chuckles are needed to augment the meds and dark clouds. Won't know if we can leave for our summer trip until later in the week after she sees the doctor for a follow-up. Not looking good, but fingers crossed.
Keep on keepin' on.
Thanks, my friend. I enjoying doing the post, and have been pleasantly surprised by how well it's been received--especially my final thought. I'm honored that you look forward to reading the newsletter every week. Sorry to hear about your wife's accident, but glad you're finding some humor in it.
And then there's "Laughter is the best medicine."
Ah yes, a classic. But I really love how Stephen Colbert tweaked it in an Entertainment Weekly interview on Jan. 4, 2007 : "Laughter is the best medicine. But it’s more than that. It’s an entire regime of antibiotics and steroids. Laughter brings the swelling down on our national psyche, and then applies an antibiotic cream."
"Laughter during hard times
is like changing a baby's diaper. It doesn't permanently resolve the issue, but it provides
invaluable temporary relief."
Once again, Mardy, you have leapfrogged over all your famous quotes and offered the best of all. I think I could use a refresher in laughing while we slog through these dark days. Thank you, Mardy, for doing way more than your share.
Thanks, Blayney, I'm honored by your kind words (and I'll make sure my wife sees your comment!).