| I've been in the humor business for a long | | | | the use of humor. We all put smiles on |
| time, and I never get tired of putting a | | | | people's faces in our own unique way.Give a |
| smile on somebody's face, even if it's just | | | | child a present at Christmas on his or her |
| for a few seconds. The sound of laughter is | | | | birthday, and watch that child open that |
| great. Being in the humor business started | | | | gift. The child's face lights up...a big |
| for my when I was eleven years old, and I've | | | | smile on that child's face! You get a warm |
| been at it ever since. (knock on wood)We all | | | | feeling in your heart; maybe a lump in your |
| know that laughter is the best medicine, and | | | | throat, and a couple of glassy eyes...right? |
| it has been humor that has helped me to cope | | | | It's a warm feeling you have all over, and it |
| through me darkest days, and there have been | | | | nothing do to with humor, etc. It has to do |
| many! Humor has been therapy for me, and I | | | | with giving!Mother's and father's know all |
| use it though thick and thin! Every time I | | | | too well, when a child brings a smile to |
| put a smile on somebody's face, it makes my | | | | their faces. When that child says that first |
| day and gives me a lift. I know I have done | | | | word; takes that first step; takes that first |
| something important to make someone happy and | | | | wobbly bike ride, and starts school, etc. |
| that's important to me.So, how does humor | | | | The parents get that smile and warm feeling |
| help me to cope? Example: I was in the | | | | all over!Aside from the parents, school |
| hospital for about a week recently, and I was | | | | teachers, more than anyone else, know the |
| admitted to the intensive care unit, with | | | | great satisfaction they get from seeing a |
| bleeding in the stomach. I was conscious and | | | | student write that first sentence; do that |
| the medical staff were doing tests, etc. | | | | first math problem; and pass that first test. |
| After arrived, a nurse came into my room, | | | | And, that's why I think school teachers do |
| carrying a clip-board, and she was going to | | | | what they do...the gratification of it all. |
| ask me about 15 questions, so we got | | | | They deal with the students everyday...up |
| started.Every time she would ask me a | | | | close and personal. But, everyone puts a |
| question, I would answer it with a silly, | | | | smile on someone's face in their own way. |
| ridiculous answer in an attempt to make her | | | | For example:Farmers and ranchers put food on |
| laugh, and then I would follow up with a | | | | our tables and that makes us happy, right? |
| straight and serious answer, etc. It was a | | | | What would we do without the truckers and |
| little game I played with her, and she seemed | | | | delivery people who put that food on the |
| to enjoy it. The questions and answers went | | | | table? Engineers who make our lives more |
| something like this:Nurse: "Mr. Aragon, do | | | | comfortable, and all of our useful gadgets. |
| you smoke?"Jerry: "Only when I'm on | | | | All the people who make all the goodies we |
| fire!"Nurse: "Mr. Aragon, do you | | | | enjoy...bake goods, ice cream, etc. The |
| drink?"Jerry: "Drink what? Carrot juice, | | | | medical people who keep us healthy. The |
| milk...what? No, I don't drink anymore...I | | | | transportation people who get us from one |
| don't drink any less,either!" | | | | place to another. And, what would we do |
| (Gotcha!)Nurse: "Mr. Aragon, are you | | | | without the garbage people who make us happy, |
| allergic to anything?"Jerry: "Only to a | | | | when they take the garbage away, and keep |
| nosey nurse, who keeps asking me dumb | | | | insects from spreading disease. The |
| questions and won't let me get a little | | | | construction people who built our houses, |
| restwhile I'm on my death bed!"Nurse: "Mr. | | | | apartments, and work places, etc. Were you |
| Aragon, do you have any pain?"Jerry: "Yes, I | | | | happy when you moved into that new house? |
| have a pain in the butt, and guess who's | | | | Retailers, service people, financial people |
| causing it?"The nurse had a great sense of | | | | who help us in so many different ways, and |
| humor, and we had a good time! Anyway, the | | | | the list goes on and on!I worked for an |
| questions and answers went something like | | | | engineering company for over ten years. And, |
| that. I remember one question when I managed | | | | if there is a piece of metal on the table; |
| to have the nurse in "stitches," get it?" | | | | wire; epoxy; glue; wire mesh, it wasn't much |
| Stitches! Hospital...nurse...surgeon..HELLO! | | | | by itself. But, put all these things |
| (I wonder why so many people think my humor | | | | together and now you have measuring devices |
| is so dry and off the wall) After the | | | | that do research on: earthquakes; volcanoes; |
| questions and answers, the nurse disappeared | | | | hurricanes; lightning; flood control; airline |
| for the rest of the day.Late in the | | | | safety and on and on. And, when I worked in |
| afternoon, and before the day shift was over, | | | | engineering, I always felt I was contributing |
| the nurse came back into my room, and gave my | | | | to make things better for humans, animals, |
| a big hug! "What was THAT for?" I asked. | | | | and the environment!So, people in America |
| "That's for making me laugh this morning and | | | | share and give of themselves in every |
| making my day," she said. The big hug made | | | | occupation and profession. Everyone has |
| my day, too! And, this is an example of how | | | | something to share, give, and contribute to |
| humor helps me to cope, and sometimes under | | | | make things better in America. Everyone has |
| serious conditions like being in a | | | | a passion that makes that person happy, and |
| hospital.Nobody has cornered the market on | | | | hopefully that passion makes others happy as |
| humor, not the most powerful or wealthy | | | | well.My passion just happens to be humor, and |
| person on earth. All of us have made sombody | | | | I take it everywhere I go. Humor for me, is |
| laugh at one time or another, and we all know | | | | not an 8 to 5 job...it's 24/7! I work all |
| how great it feels. The gratification from | | | | holidays and never take any time off...and, I |
| putting a smile on someone's face cannot be | | | | love it! |
| measured. And, it doesn't have to be through | | | | |