“Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens…” These words were first penned by Oscar Hammerstein II. They were sung by Maria who wanted to calm the children in her care during a frightful thunderstorm. Later, they would have more than thunderstorms to worry about. Still, the thought of writing something to pull us out of the gloom, I know, appeals to every songwriter, novelist, essayist, and humorist out there. It’s just so hard to do.
I’m very fortunate to be surrounded by comedians, also known as my friends and family. Still, they are having a hard time too. What to do, what to do…?
Let’s talk about reasons to jump for joy. It burns a lot of calories. The vibrations of your feet hitting the floor causes dust motes to fall from the ceiling and hang like albino garlands. The emergency room physicians will get to see you again and tsk tsk over another bout of pulled Achilles heels and sprained ankles. You come home from the unexpected outing equipped with shiny new crutches and a reason to shop on the internet, instead of hauling your behind to the brick and mortar stores.
If jumping for joy seems a bit too sporting, how about making some comfort food. But instead of gobbling it up yourself, walk it over to your neighbor who has been scowling since your recycling bin contents took flight and decorated their yard. If they refuse to answer the door, sit on their stoop and dine on pasta fromage, more commonly known as mac and cheese, until the police carry you away. I find that quite a few sheriff’s departments have enjoyed my comfort food.
What makes you happy when the world is just too hard to take? Please feel free to share. In the meanwhile, I’m looking up a new recipe that will surely impress the deputies.