Yes, Father

Before we get started, it must be said:  I love a good laugh.  I'm not a fan of malice or the overly crude, but honest, good, prodding humor is great.  And, seriously, who doesn't love a good laugh?  It burns calories, it makes you feel good, and it's usually the source of later stories down the road in life.

So, it wouldn't be surprise to note, then, that I appreciate humor, no matter when it was popular.  My parents used to watch the Three Stooges with my brother and me when we were little, and I particularly remember being 12 and watching Bill Cosby's Bill Cosby, Himself with my mom.  I was sick and she was trying to make me feel better.  Instead, I laughed so hard during the dentist skit that I seriously thought I was going to suffocate myself.  I laughed so hard I could not breathe.  No joke.  Couldn't breathe.  It, to me and especially my 12-year-old self, was the funniest thing I'd seen.

We also, now and again, would watch clips (never the full video) of Father Guido Sarducci.  He was a 1970's character created by a comedian. Very stereotypical Italian.  Very funny.  We always watched The Five Minute University because my dad a special sweet spot for it (especially the Spanish part because he was so bad at language!)  Nonetheless, Father Sarducci grew to find a sweet-spot in my heart.  Call it sentimental if you will, but I call it good humor. 

A few days ago, a friend of mine facebook posted Vitum Est Lavorum.  I hadn't seen that one before, but I wish I had.  I lost my mom 5 years ago to cancer, and I would have appreciated the light, comical air something like this would have brought to my otherwise turbulent life.  Even if you're not dealing with a loss, it's still extremely enjoyable, but I think it's something that, post-dealing-with-loss, is even more comical because you completely understand the implications of what he's saying.  It holds a little more water when you can reflect the immediacy of your situation, or reflect on a loss of any kind.  Either way, he certainly made me laugh.

So, when you need a laugh you turn to lots of people.  Sometimes you turn to a friend.  Sometimes you turn to music or a tv show.  Sometimes, though, you turn to Father S.