Die Laughing
 
For me, there's nothing better in the whole wide world than a good belly laugh. I'm talking about the kind of laugh that starts as a spontaneous burst from the gut and comes out sounding like a snort, bray, or guffaw. It's the kind of laugh after which I have to grab a tissue and wipe my nose and eyes.

A month or so ago, my laugh meter was running low. I hadn't heard a good joke since, well, never mind. This is a decent publication and all.  So I called my twin sister out in California. She's a single mom and teaches fourth grade. Surrounded by kids, she's always got something funny to say.

"I've got just the thing," Jan said. "Go get yourself a copy of Jill Conner Browne's book. It's called The Sweet Potato Queens' Book of Love and you'll laugh yourself sideways reading it. I guarantee."

I couldn't hang the phone up fast enough. Armed with my credit card that still, thank God, had about twenty bucks worth of credit left on it, I ran to my computer and logged into Amazon.com. As fast as my frozen fingers could type, I had that book ordered and winging its way to me via the fastest delivery service my credit card could afford. And then I waited.

It finally came. I was so happy to see the UPS truck pull up in front of my house I met the UPS guy halfway to my front door. Now, normally I love the shrink-wrap those folks at Amazon put around books to keep them from getting dinged and bent out of shape during shipment. But when I'm in an "I can't have it fast enough" frenzy, that shrink-wrap annoys the happy right out of me.

But not for long. The picture on the front cover of Jill Conner Browne's book made me laugh. The reviews on the back cover made me laugh harder. I'd read only a few pages when I knew that, thanks to Jill Conner Browne and the rest of the Sweet Potato Queens, I'd never want for a laugh again. Her book is just that funny.

Folks, if you're finding yourself in need of a good belly laugh, I suggest you get yourselves something funny to read like The Sweet Potato Queens' Book of Love. Yes, those "fallen Southern belles" do occasionally sacrifice decorum in searh of unbridled joy. That's a nice editorial way of saying this book may not be suitable for young readers. However, for sheer fun-loving, "let's all have a good time, ya hear" entertainment, this book's the best.

Whether it's The Sweet Potato Queens' Book of Love or the office prankster, find something or someone who makes you laugh. Belly laughs are great energizers. They make me feel frisky and young and happy. I live for those laughs. I'll take a laugh like that over chocolate--any day.