Laughing Matters

SARATOGA FAMILY | FALL 2020

Laughing Matters

BY JOEL GOODMAN

Jest for the Health of it... Jest for the health of it! In the days before “Google” became a verb, we at The HUMOR Project were delighted to receive 50,000 letters a year from folks around the world interested in the positive, healthy power of humor. Since then, we have received thousands of emails containing humorous goodies that we include in our free Laughing Matters e-mail newsletter. As we all know, the coronavirus pandemonium pandemic, the racism virus, health concerns, and the economy definitely have not been laughing matters. The recent passing of Congressman John Lewis was also very sad— and also highlighted his courage, his integrity, and his close relationship with Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. Lewis recalled the occasions when he and King traveled to Alabama and Mississippi and passed little hole-in-the-wall restaurants. With tongue-in-cheek and get really excited about car rides.

My house got toilet papered your life.

Can we uninstall 2020 and reinstall it again? If you keep a glass of wine in each hand, you can’t accidentally touch your face.

On the bright side,

I am no longer calling this shelterin-place.

I am now I have now discovered that wasn’t the reason.

Whoever owes you money... go to their house now. They should be home. a wink, King would say things like, “We should stop and get something to eat. If we get arrested and go to jail, we go on a full stomach.” King’s sense of humor helped him to di-jest and to confront racism at the same time. If we are to maintain our sanity and humanity with all of our current challenges, then we need humor now more than ever to help us keep our balance and perspective. One way to keep perspective is to develop our comic vision. I learned this when I interviewed Candid Camera’s Allen Funt for our print Laughing Matters magazine and when his son Peter Funt spoke at our international humor conference. Events around us may be serious... but by using our Candid Camera Comic Vision Vaccine, we can turn them into laughing matters. Thanks to John Madden, Emma Aliwalas,

Until further notice, the days of the week are now called Thatday, Otherday, Someday, Yesterday, Today, and Nextday.

Coronavirus has turned us all into dogs. We roam our home all day looking for food. We’re told “no” if we get too close to strangers, and we Barbara Glaser, and Ken Ingram for passing along their comic visions. To those who are complaining about the quarantine period and curfews, just remember that your grandparents were called to war; you are being called to sit on the couch and watch Netflix.

In 9 months there will be a surge in births and 16 years from now we’ll be calling these kids the quaranteens.

last night. It is now appraised at $875,000.

You’re not stuck at home, you’re safe at home. One word can change your attitude... and one cough can change

an artist-inresidence.

After years of wanting to thoroughly clean my house but lacking the time, You can do this. heck do you want now?” I did a big load of pajamas so I would have enough clean work clothes for this week.

Remember all those times when you wished the weekend would last forever? Well, wish granted. Happy now?

If these last months have taught us anything, it’s that stupidity travels faster than any virus on the planet, particularly among politicians.

Another Saturday night in the house and I just realized the trash goes out more than me. My Mom always told me I wouldn’t accomplish anything by lying in bed all day, but look at me now: I’m saving the world!

2020 is a unique Leap Year. It had 29 days in February, 300 days in March, and 5 years I swear my fridge just said, “What the

The spread of COVID-19 is based on two factors: (1) How dense the population is and (2) How dense the population is.

in April.

Readers! If you have anything that tickles your funny bone, you can send it in an email to Joel@HumorProject.com so that we can share it in the future. Laughter is a healthy way to add years to your life… and life to your years!