A touch of humor can alleviate worry brought on by nation's economy woes

What I would give for a good laugh.

I am a steadfast believer in the value of humor as an aide to surviving the toughest of times and let's face it these are definitely some tough times. I hear, see and read constantly the increasing effects of the negative economic conditions that exist today in the United States and throughout the world.

When I read the paper, watch or listen to the news I am reminded that we have a new president who has made a lot of promises to jump start, rejuvenate, or resurrect our economy by providing a stimulus package and thereby reversing this recession headed for a depression. I do want to remind folks that we will be footing the bill for the package, so use it wisely.

We have thousands of acres in the breadbasket of our nation going fallow, giving rise to comments about a dust bowl migration in reverse.

We have our major financial institutions from banks to insurance companies being run by people who are raping the investors to say the least and then requesting bailouts from the government.

We have the highest unemployment rate for the past twenty five plus years and no real improvement in sight. Add to that the closing of businesses large and small almost every day adding to the downward spiral of the economy.

Our war on terrorism does not really show any major accomplishments since the overthrow of Hussein with the war costing millions of dollars every day. It is a proven fact that laughing helps release the good endorphins that relieve stress, lower blood pressure and just makes us feel good in general. If, when I see, someone force themselves not to laugh as it wastes those good endorphins.

Back to the point of this article and that is the benefit of humor in surviving the difficult times we all face in our lives. There are situations that no humor can erase such as the loss of someone important in our lives, but for most other situations there are incidents that make us smile and hopefully do a belly laugh or two.

With all this there is a saying I made up one day (or at least I had never heard it before) and that is "If we have even one more really great day it makes all the bad ones worth it" and it has proven true to this day.

So I want to share the following with you. Amidst all this negative news I heard something the other day and it is evidently a real call to 911: A man phones and says "We need help my wife has been attacked by a badger and is hurt real bad."

The 911 operator asks him how badly his wife is hurt and the man replies she is bleeding all over the place. The 911 operator asks him for his location and the man says 5555 (not real #) Eucalyptus Street. The operator asks him to please spell that for her.

There ensues a long pause and the man says, "I'll just drag her over to Oak Street and you-all can pick her up there." This goes to show that even in the worst of situations humor exists even if slightly warped. Have at least one good laugh today.