I want to encourage us all to laugh out loud more often, and feeling relaxed about it. And the challenge is if you are a humorous person, but only in person, not in print. I mean, has Robin Williams written a funny book, or do we need to see him for him to be funny? Hey is that like if a tree falls down in the forest does it make a sound if no one is there to hear? Hmmmmm. And truly, what difference does it make to know that or not to know that?
Okay, I can see this is going to be a column of questions and few answers. Oh grasshopper, when you can take this pebble from my hand...More gook from inside my brain. How those things spring up, and being with another when they do, who laughs. Who understands your humor or sense of play.
My humor is really a sense of playfulness. Teasing for me is a form of affection. It takes energy to tease, really. And I have to like you to have the energy to spend teasing. And then you laugh. I'm encouraged. More teasing. And more barriers come down, and connection gets made in order to have a conversation.
Humor helps with a lot of things. We relax. We figure someone isn't going to make us laugh, then rush in to steal our pocketbook. Oh boy, now I just gave you some ideas.
But if you're both laughing, you're liable to suggest going somewhere for a coffee and you'll both pull out your pocketbooks to pay. Now isn't that nice?
Someone said the other day, that part of my quirky view to an American is because I grew up in Canada. That Canadians view of the world is so different and living there I just thought it was how life was, rather than it was Canadian. Yet the longer I live in the United States and hug my quirkiness, I suppose there is truth to that.
In Canada there are tons of funny shows on TV, fun print, radio, people laugh more, humor is kind and funny. There isn't the mean streak to humor that is definitely signature American.
Humor can either unite people, or divide them. When I say quirky, I mean those fun, humorous moments that unite a group. The other type is mean. It is the “humor” of , I was just kidding, can't you take a joke? Or putting down or denigrating a person or group in an effort to elevate yourself . An us and them approach. There is no talent in that in my opinion.
There is power and responsibility in humor. Some people don't like being teased, not realizing or being able to discern the nuances. Humor is so close to truth, that is what makes it funny. And saying something funny, really delightfully funny, is about surprising the listener with something so true yet incongruous, one bursts out laughing.
I guess in this column I am talking of humor, which comes from my own quirky view. And missing what is quirky in this world, and wanting to bring it forward for us all. Like Russell who restores old 1955-57 chevy cars. Twenty years ago, he and some friends cut a 57 chevy in half and placed one half on the front of his long driveway, as a marker, so people would know where to turn. I have been driving by that half car for years, and each time it makes me smile. At first it looked like a whole car, then you rubberneck and realize, Heck that's half a car. A real car. To me that is quirky. Why do that? Maybe think about doing it, but to actually follow through and do it, that is quirky. Russell was one of my first interviews for my Quirky View series. And he is outspoken, loves his work, and has a good sense of fun. When I asked him to get in the trunk of his restored 1957 Chevy, he said Sure. No questions, just did it. What a hoot. Fritz on camera, Jim on sound, me interviewing, and Russell in the trunk, opening it with a bunch of fun show openers. I bent over laughing. Those are the moments and sense of play we all need more, and I am going after them for myself, and plan to share.
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