FROWNING IS HAZARDOUS TO YOUR HEALTH

Our local home extension agent had a new year's article in the paper about how we should all resolve to laugh more. She wrote that there is scientific research showing that laughter stimulates the brain to release chemicals that increase healing and happiness and reduce pain. Well, I'm all for that. So, here are 10 things that make me laugh:

1. The movie A Christmas Story. I've watched it so much, I have parts memorized, but I never fail to laugh throughout the entire movie. "Fra-gil-ay!!!"

2. Barney Fife (Don Knotts) on The Andy Griffith Show. His hopeless efforts in trying to recite the U.S. Constitution or make a "Citizen's Arrest!" always crack me up.

3. Singing silly duets with Big Bore. Classics or made-up songs, we are masters at ruining them all. Our favorite is the grade school oldie, "Playmate, Come Out and Play with Me." The idea of this huge man singing about his "dollies three" climbing up an apple tree is ridiculous in and of itself.

4. Watching kittens play and slide on the floor while playing ball hockey.

5. Going to the Independence park/zoo to see the monkeys.

6. Unintentionally saying or doing something so dumb that I have to laugh at myself for being such a total goofball. Like the way I maneuver a car out the driveway. Big Bore and my mother do not find this one so laughable, however. "You're going to hit the tree!!!"

7. Gross e-mail cartoons, like the one of the hefty repairman using duck tape to conceal his butt crack. Yes, I admit to laughing at that one.

8. MAD-TV, most of the time.

9. The production of "Pageant" at Cabaret Old Town in Wichita. If you haven't seen it, you must go.

10. Being with my friends. They don't even have to try to make me laugh. It's automatic.

THE END