Gift of Laughter

December 30 – Gift Prompt: Gift. This month, gifts and gift-giving can seem inescapable. What’s the most memorable gift, tangible or emotional, you received this year? 


The scene: After the oncologist visit. Our favorite Italian restaurant.


The actors: Me, my mom and my sister.


Act 2:


I can't write out the script from our lunch. We should have been discussing details and final plans. Instead we laughed. And laughed. And laughed.


I can't write what we were laughing about because cancer and death aren't supposed to be funny. Our jokes were horribly inappropriate and I'm sure offensive.


But we laughed. 


We laughed until our sides hurt. Laughed until we peed our pants. And laughed until we cried.


Laughter is what we needed. It was the gift cancer gave us that day.

Laughter through tears is my favorite emotion.

 -- Dolly Parton in Steel Magnolias