Don’t panic – this ‘going with the flow’ stuff is not going to become a series, but I would like to emphasize one of Husband’s most beautiful attributes – the ability to laugh at himself. Yesterday, for instance, when he was home for the day, he was utterly unable to walk at all for most of the time, so I reminded him of our marathon the other day and, as I was re-telling the story, he and I both started to laugh at the ridiculousness of it.
Some people can laugh at themselves and some people can’t but I think everyone should be able to because it sure as hell beats crying or being embarrassed. It’s a really honest, transparent kind of laughing and I learned how to do it from Husband so I now laugh at myself a lot. I find this a lot more refreshing than all that self-analysis stuff that Son likes to do which is probably part of teenagerdom – dunno.
A while ago, when Husband was home for the weekend, we got out the abs machine I stopped using because Wantok the red-tailed black cockatoo destroyed bits of it (see long-ago posts). We got it out to take it to the dump. At the time, Julie-who-is-terrified-of-birds was visiting and she said she’d take it. All of a sudden, Husband, who had been sitting in a chair incapacitated, leapt up and onto (well not quite that fast) the abs machine and did about ten abswings. Son and I watched hysterically because none of us had been able to get to five, let alone ten. I was terrified Husband would have a heart attack or something but he did the ten swings after which all three of us had to help him up and then we all collapsed into laughter with Husband laughing the most!
Husband doesn’t laugh like he used to; it’s as if he’s forgotten how. He used to have this huge, loud laugh where his face all crinkled up but now the Parkinson’s has rendered his face impassive for the most part. Son, pictured on the right here, has the same laugh thank goodness!
jmgoyder 
This is beautiful, JM. Laughter is beautiful. People who laugh at themselves are beautiful. x
What a lovely comment – thank you so much!
Great memories to have hon and while we can still laugh, we must do it. It’s more fun to laugh at yourself than anything else, because it comforts the soul. 🙂
*hugs*
Very true and thank you so much.
What a funny man he is 😀 – a master of the absurd
Yes, he’s always been good at absurd!
Love this!
Thanks!
This is a great post and story! You told it so well! Loved the pictures, too!
Thanks – btw still not getting your notifications – sorry!
Good medicine.
What a great story and photo. I would do exactly the same as husband here with the ab machine. So much can relate. The human spirit is so bold and powerful. Laughter is the only elixir sometimes 🙂
Beautifully put – thanks RL!
“Greet” is a wonderful Scots word which has a variety of meanings. It can mean a bout of weeping when something gets too much for you as in “I had a right guid greet tae myself” translated into English as “I had a good cry to myself”.
It can also be used to describe someone who looks permanently miserable, as though on the verge of tears or someone who always moans . “He always has a greetin face”.
Look on the bright side and try and not cause yourself to “greet”. Laugh instead. If you don’t laugh you will only greet!
You live in Australia with it’s wonderful weather – not like in Scotland with its wet and windy weather. No wonder we are always “greetin”.
What a perfect word!
What a cute picture! It’s good to see everyone laughing. Great memory!
It was a good day!
If I couldn’t laugh at myself, I’d be crying I suppose. I’ll just take laughing – it’s healthier!
So true!!
Julie,
I love this post. Your honesty is both beautiful and heartbreaking. I am imagining Husband’s laugh of the past, as I too know of such laughter that has gone the way of the wind. It is the sort that is contagious. Even though that part of the outward laugh is gone, it’s so wonderful to know that YOU, dear wife, remember the laugh of old and probably hear it in your heart whether you hear it with your ears or not. Laugh often dear lady…those are the memories we keep forever!
Rhonda
Thank you so much, Rhonda, for such an encouraging comments – wow – Juliex
You inspire Julie. I could only hope to be the wife that you are! Being one of those “incurables” that you tend to attract…I can’t help but see the light in all you write. I know you must have your dark days, and for those I am truly saddened…but please know that you show hope and love and laughter when some only see sadness. You are truly a gift!
You are too generous but thank you very much!
Thanks for checking out my page J! I was reading your post and thinking wow I love the way she writes and then I checked out your about page and see that you taught creative writing! Laughter is good medicine. Thanks for writing this and reminding me of that. 🙂
Thanks so much for being interested!
Great picture. How wonderful that you are all able to create new joyful memories together!! I am always surprised that people are willing to give so much energy and focus to fear, hate and revenge, when love, joy and laughter are so much more powerful.
Thanks Linda – you are such a great support!
And you, Julie, are a great inspiration!
Dunno about that but thank you!
Thanks for letting me camp out in your blog today. I had a great time and tried to leave my campsite as clean as when I arrived.
Thanks for camping – glad you enjoyed your stay!