May 11, 2021 — It’s as my mother would always say: “Gotta keep laughing, Jo!” Hehe, as if it were yesterday instead of two decades ago, I remember running errands with Mom one very hot Miami day. Back then, I was a “put it off, put it off and then do it all in one fell swoop” shopper, so my little car was packed with BIG purchases (e.g., a new desk chair, office printer, a couple of oversized floor pillows). By the time we’d loaded everything I needed and then some, there was hardly room for my octogenarian mom to squeeze her skinny 5’3″ self into the back seat behind me.
Heading for home, I proposed we drive thru Dairy Queen to cool off with one of their flavored-ice drinks. Mom insisted there was not room for as much as a sippy cup back there; she’d pass. I pulled in and gave the courteous kid at the window my order for one kiwi-strawberry Mister Misty, please. “Got it,” he said, and waited patiently for me to order for my companion. When I didn’t, he stretched way out his window and yelled through mine to Mom smooshed in the back, “And for you, ma’am?” he called. Without skipping a beat came her pitiful, deadpanned reply: “Oh, she doesn’t feed me.”
Making someone laugh is really a gift … generally enjoyed by the giver as much as the receiver! When I went to see my cataract surgeon (no pun intended!) last week for a follow-up, the good doctor very solemnly raised his hand in front of my right eye and instructed me to close my left. That seemed a little off to me, but I followed orders. Nodding his approval, he moved his hand to cover my left eye and directed me to close my right. I finally got the gag, rolled Both my eyes and cracked up. “Great!” I teased. “It’s so comforting to know that my vision is in the hands of a goofball!”
Seriously, though, Dr. Villani’s silliness made for a much less stressful and far more pleasant experience. I left his office thinking, “If only everyone were such fun.” And, “Mom would have loved that guy!” Can you believe, the Spring Chickens birthday design has been a top-seller since I wrote it for Mom and her best buddy, Shorty, more than 20 years ago. Oh my gosh, those two were always making each other laugh about something or other!
In case you are one such character who loves to share laughter, here’s a fun collection of cards for you. And if you care to share a “cracked me up!” story of your own, just leave a Comment below. You know what my mother would say: “Gotta keep laughing, Cardies!” Fun sending!
Jodee Stevens
Founder & Chief Creative
i am waiting in line at the post office.
there is a small boy in front of me
with his mother.
he has a bag in his hand.
he keeps “dipping” in
and placing some
tidbit in his mouth.
AND he keeps looking at me
and then looks in the bag.
i realize after awhile he
has chocolates in the bag.
i wink at him.
after a few moments,
he holds the bag toward me
and offers me a chocolate.
i say to him,
“thank you so much for
sharing but i do not care
for chocolate and i think
you will enjoy those chocolates
more than i would.”
to which he replies,
” you do not like chocolates”?
to which i shake my head.
he looks in his bag,
back at me and says,
“that is unamerican”
everyone in line
burst into laughter.
actually i DO like chocolateS
i do not care for chocolate
as in ice cream, cake, pie etc
but i do like GOOD chocolateS
actually enjoy them tremendously !
i suppose i am somewhat of
a chocloateS SNOB !!
won’t eat what i see as
inferior chocolates. (chuckle)
i am also like that about raspberries.
i love fresh raspberries
but not raspberry as in jam, pie, sherbet etc.
strange strange very strange (laugh)
the ophthalmologist story is very funny.
what a guy !?!!
i am going to share it with a friend
who is an ophthalmologist
perhaps he will begin the practice
himself ???? (laugh)
lot of laughter going on !!
Great story to start my day. Thank you Jodee — it made me laugh and you are wonderful at doing that!!