buzz-buzz: laugh-laugh
“What happened to your hair?” Andy asked Jordan at dinner.
“What’d you mean?” Jordan responded in the way he always responds when avoiding an answer.
Sam looked up from his fajita. “Woah. Buzz-buzz,” he said.
Jordan looked up, and I held my breath. It was a moment when things could take an ugly turn.
Sam laughed.
Jordan cracked a smile.
Andy said, “Did you get electrocuted?”
Jordan’s smile turned wide. “No,” he chuckled. “I tried straightening my hair.”
“Did it turn out the way you were hoping?”
Jordan shook his head and laughed again. “Not really.”
“I could help you,” I said.
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“Why do you want to straighten you hair?” Sam asked.
“If I straighten my hair we can have a free day in weights. Plus, it could be cool.”
Sam cut his eyes to him. “Buzz-buzz,” he said the line that made us laugh earlier. The second delivery did not disappoint the young comedian. We laughed again.
After dinner, Jordan gathered the tools. We settled in the family room and started the process. Bit by bit we straightened and combed and checked the mirror.
And we laughed.
It is the laughter that I want to remember. A few days earlier I mentioned to Andy that we need to laugh more. It’s not that anything is bad, it’s just that I want to hold on to a lighthearted life. I want to laugh. A lot.
Laughter was one of the things that angered Stephanie. She didn’t like it when we were lighthearted. She didn’t like laughter. I’m not talking about sarcasm or mean laughter. No one likes that. She loathed the kind of laughter that is light and fun and genuine.
The thing that has changed the most about me is that I’m quick to laugh. I laugh more, too. I hope this is always the thing that is changing about me, because I think it it’s a worthy goal — to laugh easily and more.
Won’t you join us for #sosmagic and share a story?
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I am so happy you laughed! I smiled playing the scene in my head. Your picture is beautiful, pure joy!
Mary Helen, you are the best laugh-er I know!
Thank you for the reminder of the importance of laughter … light hearted, joy filled, fantabulous laughter. I’m going to say a prayer for Stephanie, that whatever wounds made laughter painful for her might begin, or continue to be gently healed.
I love reading about your family. Thank you for sharing them with us!
Thanks Molly! Prayers matter. A lot.
There is something about hair …. My twenty-five year old sometimes lets me braid her hair.
There is something about laughter ….. We all could use more of it
There is something about sharing…I like reading about the everyday moments
Thank you for this post!
I love to braid. Stephanie has the best hair to braid. She always loved when I braided. It is one of the best memories I have of being her mom — braiding her hair.
Your post made me smile and I love that photo of the two of you. I also love how you are actively finding more ways to laugh at home. That is such a worthy goal. We have laughed so much on this cross country trip. I want to bring that home too
Loved the story. . . I think we are all just plain weary. Weary of COVID, isolation, masks. Weary of death. I have lost two dear friends, on just yesterday. Weary of politics. Weary of hate. Weary of the walk of life. I so look for the joy each day. It is there. When I lost my school badge yesterday, I couldn’t find much joy. I had taken food to the pantry for our students. In the middle of the night, I woke up and thought what if that badge dropped in one of the bags. I managed to keep it together this morning for my coffee fix. Peaceful writing time. Prayed “ok God, please help me out.” Cleaned out my briefcase, my purse, the corner with coats. I went out to the car for the third time. . . really cleaned. Folded all the football blankets. There by the seatbelt was the necklace and badge. Now I have cleaned, organized and feel joyful.
Shirl, I’m sorry for the loss of your friends. How devastating. Some days it is hard to shake being weary. I think that small prayer made a big difference.
I hope Jordan got his free day in the weights room. 🙂 Who knew the hair was that long?! I think there’s a lot of laughter coming your way as Luna grows up. Keep laughing and finding the joy in the moments.
Awww, that dog has turned out to be the thing I might have needed most. I thought it was a win for the kids; turned out it was a sweet gift for me.
This story just made me smile 😃. And these are the stories you need to go back and read just to remind yourself to laugh.
Your family stories always get me! I loved the pictures and all the laughter. What a beautiful moment together!
I was just talking with Sam about laughing on Thursday evening. A simple yet powerful form of therapy! Thanks for sharing your family’s laughter 🙂
Laughter is the best medicine. I laughed so hard with my girls whenever the clock struck nine o’clock. I got punchy. The giggles started and they looked at each other and said, “It’s nine o’clock.” Looks like Jordan has a great sense of humor, and he doesn’t mind when the joke is on him.
I saw the pic on Instagram and now I have the story and the laughter. Thanks for sharing. I’ve also felt the need for more laughter, especially now. Maybe we should start a list of movies, books, songs, that bring laughter!
Ruth: What a great photo! I am intrigued by what motivated Jordan to straighten his hair. He looks so happy. You’re so right about needing to laugh more – for we all do at present, I think. It’s a sign of appreciating life and its gifts,,, which you capture with “I want to hold on to a lighthearted life. I want to laugh. A lot.” That’s because there’s so much to love and joy for the savoring – if we invite it.
I love the photos! I love the story! How fun! How wonderful! (Holy moly! Jordan is looking older. Time seems to fly.)