We had always been avid campers and had finally found an idyllic spot in the B.C. Okanagan. There we spent the most memorable summers of our lives.
The campsite was located right across the road from the lake and was set in an orchard, filled with all kinds of fruit trees (which we were allowed to pick). The owners made us feel like we had come home every time we arrived. They were a friendly couple and Dorothy had a most wonderful laugh that we often heard all over the campsite. She was a joy to be around.
One winter we headed south to Yuma. It was a new experience for us.
We drove into a large campsite that was on our map, parked and decided to walk about and see if we wanted to spend more than a few days there.
As we rounded one corner we heard a lady laugh.
“That’s Dorothy,” my husband insisted. “No way,” I replied.
But there she was right around the corner.
Several hugs later we were all laughing, smiling and enjoying coffee together.
My poem “Laughter Please” was printed recently in Good Times.
Find me a book with laughter. Find me a book with song.
Find me a book with the loving that helps the world along.
I don’t want a sad, sad story, of guns, or war, or strife.
No find me a book about people…a man, his kids and his wife.
So spin me a tale of wonder, of stardust and of dreams.
And for a time we’ll pretend life isn’t what it seems.
We need, sometimes, to stop and share a joke or two.
So find me a book with laughter, and I’ll laugh along with you.
There is a saying that if you preach about grief you will always have an audience. But we need laughter too…laughter to lighten the load, to lift our spirits and remind us that we are the Lord’s and that He has given us the gift of laughter…laughter like salt…to enhance what life is all about.
