Have you ever watched Jerry Seinfeld’s web series, Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee? Each episode is framed around a specific car (often vintage) that Seinfeld is driving while spending time with a fellow comedian. They go out to eat and get coffee along the way. It’s a simple and wonderful premise. The episodes are short-ish – usually around 15 – 20 minutes.
They make me laugh out loud. I saw a link to the latest episode with Sarah Jessica Parker (who is very funny) and that led me to another and another. Then I got Don involved and he was watching episodes on his laptop. Picture both of us in front of our laptops wearing our earbuds, laughing out loud.
In the list of qualities I feel are absolutely essential in a boyfriend, a husband, a colleague or a friend, a sense of humor is at the very top. If Don hadn’t had a sense of the absurd, a streak of funny coursing through his veins, that first meeting I told you about would have been the beginning and the end of our relationship.
It’s that important to me. In all modesty, I’m a really funny person. I can make people laugh. It’s always been that way. And Don, oh my goodness, is he funny! He can make me laugh so hard and long that I end up gasping and begging for mercy, usually ending with “Stop! Stop! I’m going to pee in my pants!!”
And I make him laugh. There’s nothing better than making someone who has a fabulous sense of humor laugh out loud.
My sister and I have been known to laugh so hard that we literally – and I do mean literally – fall to the ground. One such situation comes to mind. I was living in Boston and Meredith was visiting with her boyfriend, who I was meeting for the very first time. We were in Fanueil Hall looking at a rack of cards and I said something that struck us both as funny. We started laughing and we couldn’t stop. This went on for several minutes with both of us eventually falling to the floor. John, the boyfriend who ended up being my future brother-in-law, took it in stride and quietly walked away from us while we were causing quite the scene.
Little did John know that was the first of many laugh fests. In fact, one of the first conversations John and I had was about Seinfeld episodes that we loved. We couldn’t stop laughing.
(It might be time to share the Henna from Hell story with you – yet another adventure with my sister. Maybe this week…we’ll see.)
I think you have to be able to filter life through a lens that sees the humor in things, that captures that sense of the absurd, the silly, the farcical, the satiric. Lord knows, it’s saved my sanity more times than I can count.
Is there anything better than laughing so hard you have tears rolling down your face? It’s cathartic. It cleanses. It releases.
I’m going to go watch some more episodes of Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee. There’s a few I haven’t seen yet.
New post today on Just Let Me Finish This Page. It’s a book review of Cop Town by Karin Slaughter. (Loved the book.)
Happy Monday.
Oh, I’m so glad someone else can admit to falling into “silly puddles”! It can only happen with certain special people…my sisters, husband, sons, best friends. And once it starts, there’s no stopping it. Love that it happens to you, too. I knew you were ‘special’!
It sure does happen to me. Such a glorious thing, Shanna.
There is not one thing in this life any better than a good laugh!
I agree, Jeannine!
Do you know that show made me a coffee drinker at the age of 48? Not only does it make me laugh It made me crave a cuppa! I enjoy hearing peoples stories. I love listening to them talking a bout their craft and the science of being a comedian.
Me too. It’s fascinating and funny and, boy does that coffee look good!
Claudia, laughter and a sense of humor is so important to me. I have a sense of humor and love to make others laugh. It’s so healing and feels so good to just laugh and laugh and laugh. Don’t take yourself too seriously as life is so short!
hugs,
Linda
You’re absolutely right – sometimes humor takes us out of the angst of a situation, and helps us to gain perspective. Thank goodness!
I LOVE that web series!! And, it is true, I sit and laugh out loud watching it. Have you ever watched Portlandia? That does the same thing for me, although it is a bit more outlandish, that is for sure!
They say “laughter is the best medicine” and I am a firm believer. I have even been known to tell myself a joke or two, esp when I worked and would have to sit through long boring meetings. The absurdity of some of the “stuff” that was on the agendas would get to me, and it would all become joke material, even if I had to contain it to myself. Even when we can’t find something to laugh out loud about, there is ALWAYS something we can think about to bring at least a smile.
I do feel lucky to have a few friends with whom I am able to share those gut wrenching laugh til you can’t breathe moments. We relive them quite often and then we end up laughing just as hard yet all over again.
Great post!! :-) :-) :-)
I sometimes do that – remember something funny – when I’m having to go through a boring meeting or a long wait somewhere. Brings a smile to my face!
I have a natural dry sense of humor. Being in leadership I will tell a group something important and they laugh…Not that it’s funny just the way I honestly say it. Someone told me I say what everyone is thinking and afraid to say it themselves. Guess you could say I see things on the far side.
Seeing things on the far side is a very good thing, Judy!
Nothing better than a deep belly laugh. I’ve been that way with girlfriends, brothers, husband and son. So silly at times, and feeling wonderful afterwards.
It’s like getting a good massage, Vera.
Jerry Seinfeld never quits does he? So many good times, and good laughs.
My BF and I laughed into puddles in my local grocery store one time. The store manager had to come over to see what the commotion was about. She looked at us shook her head and walked away. Which of course made us laugh even more. It all started with a sample of fruit landing on the floor. When we remember that time together we start all over again.
Such a pure way to release pent up emotions.
My sister and I are that way. We’ll remember something funny and start laughing all over again.
Love the episode in the big station wagon.
Me too, Cindy.
If a man can make me laugh, he is automatically more attractive, and if gets my humor, yahoo! I think having a sense of humor is a great coping skill too, although I admit I have gotten the giggles a few times when I wished I hadn’t. But the absurd does it do me, and if I have a partner in crime, giggles ensue.
I’ve definitely been known to get the giggles at an inappropriate time, Sandra.
I remember the time I went with my mom when she needed to renew her license. I was in my early twenties, she in her early 50’s. She didn’t want to put on her glasses to read the chart. We were the only customers there. I was sitting on a bench against the wall and watching her antics. The examiner kept asking her to read the line and she would just stand there trying to make out the letters. I started laughing. And laughing. And laughing. I was lying down on the bench. I got the examiner laughing too, and he was trying to keep a straight face and my mom was shooting us both dirty looks and that would get us going again. Then she started in chastising us like children and I thought we were going to die! Finally I told her to put on her glasses, she did and got her license and we could leave that poor man in peace. Still makes me laugh.
What a great story, Tana! Love, love it.
Oh my stars, Claudia! You should have put a warning on this: Caution-If you are having allergy problems, have a weak bladder, or are in fear of others thinking you have gone mad, do not watch! I watched the one with Ricky Gervais, which I love, and thought I would choke, I was laughing so hard! I was sweating at the end and thought I was having hot flashes! I so agree with you, a sense of humor is a must!! Thanks for making my day!
Hugs,
Deb
You are most welcome, Debbie. I love the one with Ricky Gervais!
I agree, Claudia! There is nothing better than to feel exhausted after a good belly-laugh session where you can’t stop! More oft than not I find that we are laughing at the smallest things – even just a word can set us off! I love that and I believe it is true that laughter is the best medicine. I’m so glad you and Don have that in each other and you have with your sister! Priceless!
Sometimes it’s just a word or a look, isn’t it, Melanie? That’s all it takes.
I try to look at most things with a sense of humor..actually I don’t have to try..it just happens that way..the worst thing to me is when I am out shopping..something happens and I try to make a little joke of it to the person next to me and I get a nasty blank stare in return..Ouch..I feel sorry for people that hurt so bad they can’t even give a little smile..A good laugh would make them feel much better!
Oh, I know. That happens to me. And I think, really? You don’t get the humor in this situation? Yikes.
I was laughing with a new friend of mine the other night and it occurred to me that I haven’t really laughed hard for very long time. She’s good for me because she makes me laugh. Enjoy your week.
That sounds like the perfect new friend, Missy.
I can’t remember how I came to find out about “Comedians in Cars…” but I’ve been watching since last Fall and love it. I know it must be a fun vanity project for Jerry, but I’m still glad he’s doing it. My favorites so far have been Tina Fey, David Letterman, Jay Leno, Robert Klein, Alec Baldwin [what a great impressionist – I mean, how many people can do Burt Lancaster?] and best of all, Mel Brooks and Carl Reiner. And no kidding, but I enjoy all the luscious “coffee shots” almost as much as the comedy. On occasions, more. Totally makes me crave caffeine, although that’s no real leap for me. Makes me wonder who’ll be included in the next “season.” Hoping for Robin Williams, Jim Gaffigan and Bob Newhart. Would have LOVED to see George Carlin and Jonathan Winters too.
Oh, I miss George Carlin. He was so funny and he saw the absurdities of people and government. I miss his wise and funny take on everything.
What I love most about Jerry S. is his clean honest and certainly humorous look at just about everything. I have not seen that series yet, what am I waiting for??….
and I couldn’t agree with you more –
And he clearly loves and respects his fellow comedians. Don has an old friend who is Mark Shiff, a comedian, and Jerry mentions him in one of the segments.
I have never watched this series…but I will do so later! I love a good laugh. I certainly do appreciate a sense of humor in others – but I guess it wasn’t a deal breaker for me in marrying Brian. He’s very serious. I’ll have him watch Comedians in Cars with me and see if I can get him to laugh. ;-)
Maybe he’ll laugh, Melanie!
I’ll always take humor too! My happiest times, with hubby, my sons, friends, and other family I hold dear, always revolve around humor…uncontrollable laughter! Thanks for the heads up about Jerry Seinfeld….I’ll be checking that out! ;)
Hope you enjoy it, Donnamae!
My younger daughter and I have the knack of cracking each other up like that, laughing until we’re crying … it’s always good to laugh :)
It’s the best!
Oh Claudia-
thank you! Thank you for sharing this link with me! I do like Seinfeld. He makes me laugh.
I read this post early on today…and after the kiddos left I finally sat down and watched about 5 episodes! Oh my word…
Loved them– so funny.
laughter is good medicine.
I’ll share this with you– a proverb, ‘A merry heart does good like medicine.’
always good to laugh!
have a great evening.
Pat
You too, Pat!
Sorry to be a party pooper, but you might be interested in checking out “cataplexy,” a symptom of narcolepsy. It causes one to lose muscle control when gripped by a strong emotion, especially laughter.
Nah, it wasn’t that.