Let's Just Laugh
How nice to see friends. Sometimes the world comes down so hard that we are all Atlas trying to bear the weight. Who are we kidding? Put the globe down and relax with people who love you. Like me. Talk to me about your job, your dog / cat / pig / gerbil / hamster / bird / husband / wife / girlfriend / boyfriend / BFF ... just let me hear your voice. Because hearing yours frees mine, and I need that more than you know.
Sometimes we all feel silenced, overwhelmed by the noises and screams of the otherwise unknown. Those anguished cries can become so loud that they echo without hesitation, without understanding. Without being felt within by those who ignore. But listening can be so painful, so futile. Absorbing the excess can diminish the very heartbeat that hears the howl. Yet the good ones try. The strong ones listen. The brave ones do.
Tonight, let's just love one another. Here, within this living room of mine. Let me get you something you need ... let me be your friend. Peace is getting harder to find with every moment - let's make it easy here for this one evening, at least. Let's just laugh.





Good to see the light on - feels like I never left, sometimes.
January 5, 2009 10:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
I have a glass of wine w/ you every night, even when the lights are out...
January 5, 2009 11:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm with you in spirit(s). But sweet dreams....
January 5, 2009 11:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
And peace ..
January 5, 2009 11:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks so much to both of you for not giving up on me. I love you both, and the light is always waiting to be lit ...
January 5, 2009 11:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
A candle in the darkness? Who could give up on that?
January 5, 2009 11:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
Never give up on you - you know that...
January 5, 2009 11:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
I just told some old curmudgeon that it is more fun
to sing happy pub songs than to cry in one's beer.
Good to see ya Barefooted.
January 5, 2009 11:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
And you said it with aplomb too!
January 5, 2009 11:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
You, too, Mr. Day. Sing a happy song with me, okay?
January 5, 2009 11:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
There was a wild colonial boy...
January 5, 2009 11:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
Nice. Let's just keep laughing... 'kay, me?
January 5, 2009 11:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
...Jack Duggan was his name...
January 5, 2009 11:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hey there. Nice to see you again -- it seems like it's been a while. There's not too much to tell you -- I take that back, I have a little bit of a story I've been saving, and then decided against, but what the hell.
I don't go to church. My wife is Catholic, and my kids have all been baptized that way, but I'm Presbyterian, to the extent that any of us Protestants are anything. But I don't got to church -- haven't really been to an actual service since I was a kid. Funerals, weddings, sure, but not an actual service. Anyway, Christmas Eve came, and I thought my wife should take the 4-year-old to mass. We talked about it for the day, but when the time came, she wasn't feeling up to it. I offered to take her, but the wife thought -- rightly -- that I wouldn't know what to do. So I suggested I take her to the Pres. church down the street. She laughed at that -- calling it the "Church of What's Happening Now" but agreed. So the girl got dressed up, and I put on a sweater, and we went. It was a service designed for preschoolers, so there were fun songs and youth ministry and my daughter was having a great time. Lots of singing and cheering and the Linus video about the nativity. And at the end, a woman walked up to me.
She looked vaguely familiar, and she handed me her card. "We were sorry we didn't get you, but he'd really like to talk to you," and I realized she was someone who I had interviewed with a few months ago. On the back of the card was written her partner's name and phone number and the words "CALL HIM"
Now, I've been pretty much unemployed for a year. And i don't know what will come of it (I called him, but he didn't return my call. Yet). But it's a nice little story for Christmas Eve, and I'm glad I've got the chance to tell you.
Hope you're well. Your present is late, but coming. Genius -- even limited as mine is -- takes time.
January 5, 2009 11:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
I once had a patient who said (to herself): "God, if you exist, show me a sign." The phone rang. It was a pastor she'd met somewhere or another, who'd thought to call her up....
Holy Mystery. That's what I call it. You might as well give in....
January 5, 2009 11:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
i go to my sister's church for Christmas eve - it's pretty much the only time I'm in church all year. I like to sing the first verse of O Come All Ye Faithful in Latin (Adeste Fideles) just to bring back the old Catholic days...
January 5, 2009 11:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
Happy, happy, Matt. You are so much more special than you realize. I have a strong feeling that that unexpected "touch" may just be what you've been waiting for - and what better way to find it? Keep your chin up and your feet running, you'll end up so much happier than you can imagine now. Promise. Oh, and I'm holding you to that gift...
January 5, 2009 11:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
Matt, In my world that is what is known as a God Stop...a moment when you know God has just done something....
Open your heart, my dear, He's inviting you to join Him...
January 5, 2009 11:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ah, Missy, you and your living room are just what I needed.
I'm gonna pop open one last beer and sit here on the old blue chair if you don't mind.
My heart aches for pets tonight, and for victims of war. But it's better to laugh than cry, because otherwise we'd all be miserable and moping and never getting anything done.
So....here's to Carol Burnett. Here's to Barbra Streisand in Funny Girl. Here's to Gracie. Here's to Lily Tomlin. Here's to Gilda.
I'm chuckling to myself already. Thanks!!
January 5, 2009 11:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
Our minds so often think alike, funny girl. I have that movie as my latest from Netflix and am planning to watch with joy and much laughter. So needed. The old blue chair is always yours... here's to you, my friend.
January 5, 2009 11:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
Good to see you, Lis...
January 5, 2009 11:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
TheraP just made a comment about God on the phone.
I woke up this morning early and had something on my mind and wrote a blog.
Five minutes later I get two of the nicest comments and I was happy all day. I am a sucker. But it makes me feel so good.
January 5, 2009 11:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
That's how it happens when you keep your heart open, Mr. Day.
January 5, 2009 11:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's always nice here. It's the best place to drop in I can think of, including my own living room.
January 5, 2009 11:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks, me. It's always brighter because of you - even when the lights are low.
January 6, 2009 12:07 AM | Reply | Permalink
I like it when the lights are low - must come from both my often-nocturnal life and my earlier life in photo darkrooms.
January 6, 2009 12:40 AM | Reply | Permalink
Happy Gnu Ear, Barefooted!
Ummmm... happy things... ummmm... Ok, how about this? For my entire life, I've been savagely allergic to cats. And thus, considering what they did to me, I didn't much like them. Well, my girlfriend has a cat. He's a beast. Got attitude. Which I like.
First time I stayed for a long visit, he dumped one in the tub. Green. good quantity too. I found it with my foot. Seems he'd NEVER done that before, so it was personal. But like I say, I like attitude, and really like him now. A right bastard, he is. And the weirdest thing... I'm not so allergic to him.
I'm sure there's a moral for the New Year in there somewhere. Dick'll probably decide it's about cat turds or somesuch, so I'm pre-empting him. Good to see you.
January 5, 2009 11:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
Quinn, too much info.
January 5, 2009 11:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oh, and Quinn, keep the sand out of the tub.
January 5, 2009 11:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
It seems entirely possible that he's allergic to you. After all, you're the bastard who invaded his space and took his woman. A green dump was rather kind on his part, I'd say. Watch your step - a smart cat beats a quirky quinn every time.
Good to see ya, too. Stay on your toes.
January 5, 2009 11:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
exactly! Poop was our dog's favorite way of letting us know she was displeased w/ our behavior!
January 6, 2009 12:05 AM | Reply | Permalink
Jeeesus, Mary & Joseph. Let us get away from excrement and move on to the pub.
There was a man from Nantucket...
January 6, 2009 12:09 AM | Reply | Permalink
Who took a green dump in a bucket? Sorry ...
Who decided to say, "Aww, just f**k it" Really sorry...
;) Let's just laugh!
January 6, 2009 12:18 AM | Reply | Permalink
You've not seen nothin like the Mighty Quinn.
The day will kind of go on and on and I am losing it. Then I come upon Quinn doing thirty pages.
He reminds me of Arp. Arp once wrote an entire novel. But he ended each page with a full sentence and a period. Then he just shuffled the pages and either tried or actually got it published.
Well, you get the idea.
January 6, 2009 12:21 AM | Reply | Permalink
Indeed I do, and I am yet another admirer of the mighty quinn. Who isn't? But my knees hurt too much to kneel, and I don't bow easily. He'll know what I mean.
January 6, 2009 12:31 AM | Reply | Permalink
Since everybody else is quiet. At least according to my old pc, every page Quinn writes, has got something to do with my life.
It really is amazing. Quinn is the kind of guy in your Eng Lit course where the professor just loves him or has him escorted out of the class room.
He makes a boring day seem really interesting.
January 6, 2009 12:32 AM | Reply | Permalink
Well, he IS Canadian!
January 6, 2009 12:42 AM | Reply | Permalink
I do understand, Mr. Day. He is perhaps my favorite writer on TPM (shhh ... don't tell him I said that...), by far. He stretches my mind, my imagination and almost forces me to look ouside of the ordinary. All of the above much appreciated.
January 6, 2009 12:44 AM | Reply | Permalink
You know, speakin of Canadians. Quinn claims birth here. And I love this country. But some will go on and on about the English and how dastardly they were and then talk about how our forefathers--when I was a kid I thought it was four fathers, maybe the mother could not make up her mind--saved us.
And then I remembered Canada. And they seemed like they did okay.
THE END.
January 6, 2009 12:53 AM | Reply | Permalink
They are OK. It's just one of my standard riffs - if anything I say can be considered a standard riff.
Hey, some of my best friends are Canadian. Well, one anyway...
January 6, 2009 12:58 AM | Reply | Permalink
Oh, Barefooted, I only let my therapist call me Mr. She says it helps us keep a structural distance.
But I still do not understand why I have to take off all my clothes before every session.
But it is kind of sexy to be called Mr. when you are naked.
But I am not naked now, I am in my pajamas and Mornin Joe says all the computer geniuses are in their jammies anyway.... Well Call me Dick. Or Arthur. Stilli calls me Arthur.
January 6, 2009 1:06 AM | Reply | Permalink
I'll call you whatever you prefer. Your choice.
January 6, 2009 1:13 AM | Reply | Permalink
Dick is ok. Now do you like Missy or Barefooted?
January 6, 2009 1:15 AM | Reply | Permalink
Missy, or Melissa, is my name. Barefooted is a description of me. You decide.
January 6, 2009 1:24 AM | Reply | Permalink
Ok Missy. But I still would like to see you respond to THE MIGHTY QUINN before I go to bed.
January 6, 2009 1:27 AM | Reply | Permalink
Well now I don't know whether I've been savagely insulted, or praised the the heavens, or handed a bucket of cat doo. And my brain was already pretty confused today, as you may have noted. All this, from a little story about green poo in a tub. Who knew? So my answers are (in order of length):
- Yes, the cat is allergic to me. And has shown significant restraint. Which I'm loathe to admit, because I think the bugger can read.
- To be compared to Arp is praise beyond praise, as I am (fairly obviously) a lover of dada. I only fear that the level of confusion, randomness, bestiality and ancient masonry in my posts is far too low to provide me entry to their circle. Then again, as I used to sign my "Mars Attacks!" comments here... Ark! Ark! Ark! That'll have to hold 'em.
- A story. I tried to change courses & get into English Lit at a certain overseas university. Upon meeting the Dean, I KNEW I was in. Because this guy was the absolute spitting image of my eldest brother. Better yet, he shared the same first name as my brother. AND the same last name. (This is a true story, ok?) After 20 minutes with him, the guy nearly had me thrown out on my ass. He HATED me, with a deep & abiding. I'd like to tell you I later went on to write award-winning novels that blew the boards off him, but that'd be utter bollocks. Bottomline? I'm still pissed at my brother.
- The Dean was English. So, like Dick, I find myself conflicted about that race. I think it all comes down to a choice of whether you think: A) they should be horsewhipped, or, B) just have a lot of fish thrown at them. I figure that'll go in my next post.
Thanks folks. It's always good to drop into the home.
Correction. "Drop in where it FEELS so much like home."
Ok, that didn't work either, because my family's crazy, but - as Dick says - "You get the idea."
THE END.
January 6, 2009 1:14 AM | Reply | Permalink
hahahahahahahahhahahah
SEE I TOLD YA.
But I get so sick of reading the same stuff, including my own.
January 6, 2009 1:23 AM | Reply | Permalink
Did you just say your cat is allergic to you? Doesn't it usually work the other way?
January 6, 2009 1:28 AM | Reply | Permalink
Not "my" cat.... "the" cat.
If I had a cat, well... let's just say he wouldn't be dropping green turds in my tub or complaining about where I lick myself or whining about how much I shed. Or else he'd be out on his ass.
Dogs. Big Newfie dogs. Now that's a PROPER animal.
That, or a Wolverine. Which I'd sic on Dic.
January 6, 2009 1:52 AM | Reply | Permalink
We're all simply nuts - so welcome to the land of the squirrels.
January 6, 2009 1:30 AM | Reply | Permalink
We've got more than squirrels. We've got chickens and pigs and toads. It's a veritable zoo 'round these parts.
January 6, 2009 1:37 AM | Reply | Permalink
Actually, I think a squirrel is the one thing we don't have yet. Odd. Do we have a zookeeper?
January 6, 2009 1:51 AM | Reply | Permalink
That might be a good job for Lux. Where's he been lately?
Anyway, off to bed for me. G'night Missy. I hope you've laughed a lot tonight!
January 6, 2009 1:53 AM | Reply | Permalink
I don't have a squirrel, but I can make squirrel cry.
Take away his peanut butter.
(Been waiting to use that line since the 5th Grade.)
January 6, 2009 1:53 AM | Reply | Permalink
Oh, it's take away his peanut butter! No wonder... I always thought it was pea nuts, skip the butter. Seriously, have you ever seen them? Sadly, I have angered many a rabid squirrel - all for the sake of some nuts.
January 6, 2009 2:15 AM | Reply | Permalink
G'night all...sounds like a good time was had by all!
Sleep well, Missy...
January 6, 2009 2:05 AM | Reply | Permalink