Smile Though the World is Aching

When can I use my incredible sense of humor for this blog? In the perspective of all the really bad things that are going on, it seems too petty to write something funny. Or maybe I'm not as funny as I think I am. Out of about 100 jokes in the last 23 years, my hubby has laughed at only 2. It's something about my timing. Out of the 2 funny jokes, he's made one of them his own. It was a pirate joke that I told in my regular voice. He, on the other hand, uses the tone, vernacular and gestures of a pirate to enhance the joke to an art. Of course, in lieu of today's pirates, there's nothing funny about those guys either. I do enjoy the fact that the way they saved the kidnapped captain of a ship was to make the pirates sea sick. The small boat that held the captain was tethered to the ship. The crew shortened the tether, sped up the ship, and that made the movement of the life boat treacherous to anyone who has the tendency to barf. So while the pirates were barfing over the side of the boat, the Navy Seals shot them and saved the captain. The shooting was not funny, though deserved. The technique was funny.
Right now there's nothing funny. I do enjoy the story of the Duggar family and their 19th baby due! This isn't an Octomom story. This is a happily married husband and wife who have created enough wealth to sustain this gigantic family! I heard an interview with them 4 kids ago. They sounded young and energetic and downright joyful to have those kids. All of them are "J" names. I didn't know there were that many J names. Today my crass radio guy used all sorts of metaphors for this mom's uterus. That was marginally funny.
Should we search for amusement in bad times? Should we laugh in the face of despair? It doesn't seem appropriate. However, if we allow every really bad situation make us cry, we would be crying all the time. Laughing is supposed to make us healthier. It creates exercise for the internal organs, joy hormones in the brain, and the surging of good chemicals through the blood vessels. I think after I've laughed so hard, my muscles feel relaxed.
So, a pirate walks into a bar.....