...day by day and days gone by!

LAUGHTER...THE BEST MEDICINE

Philip has a great sense of humour. He enjoys a good laugh as well as the next person. The next person in this case being his Uncle Barry (Chisholm).

We hear Philip laughing a lot in his room. Like when his favourite wrestler 'destroys' his opponent...or when his beloved Detroit Red Wings 'annihilate' the Montreal Canadiens (so in other words we hear him laughing quite often!).

This morning he told me this 'stinker' of a joke. It's by far his favourite...never gets tired of telling it...never gets tired of 'duping' us...never gets tired of laughing himself silly!

"Knock...knock!"

"Who's there?"

"Pile up"

"Pile up who?"

"Gotcha...made you say 'pile uh poo'!"

(laughter and tears commence at this point!)

"Knock...knock!"

"Who's there?"

"BEAR"

"Bear who?"

"Bear bum!"

(not funny...he just loves the sound of it! Stay with me - there's more!)

"Knock...knock!"

"Who's there?"

"Philip!"

"Philip who?"

"Fill up the fridge...I just ran out of pop!"

These are deliberate attempts at humour on Philip's part. He tells them to get the anticipated reaction...which we provide (usually fabricated)...it makes his day. But then there are times when he says things 'off the cuff' (eliciting genuine laughter)...he has no idea he's being funny. He soon finds out!

For example...last evening the Pastor's wife phoned to ask if we'd seen the beautiful full moon just outside our front door. We hadn't. I was 'busy' in the kitchen making this magnificent pasta dinner (fresh meat-filled ravioli...fresh bolognese sauce...fresh Italian bread...and a fine bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon...a culinary triumph for sure!), Philip was in his room aggressively recording his scores, and Diane was just minutes away from getting home from work. So who's got time for moon-watching? Apparently Lynda does!

I hang up the phone and Philip puts me through the third degree. "Who was it?...what did they want?" I told him it was the Pastor's wife (remember, they live right next door) suggesting we might want to go outside and see this full moon (a phenomenon in Kitimat...not the full moon - a sky clear enough to see it!). I headed for the door...Philip asked where I was going. I said, "To see the full moon, are you coming? Lynda thought you might like to see it". "Sure", he replied, then added,"but can she be trusted?" (we've learned not to question motive or intent - just go with the flow).

I saw the full moon...through laughter-induced watery eyes! It was as beautiful as she'd said!

This morning we received a call from Nanny (Diane's mom) informing us that her sister Sarah had just passed away in Newfoundland (we were expecting it). I asked Philip if he remembered Aunt Sarah...he did. I reminded him that she was Nanny's sister and that she had passed away this morning. He expressed how sad that was...asked how Nanny was...looked at Diane and said, "Your sister died...Nanny's sister died...now you're even!".

Phil turns sadness into gladness,

Softens sorrow - eases pain;

Somehow he knows the answer,

That we'll see them all again.

So he doesn't get to mourning,

Has no time to grieve nor weep;

He just 'knows' he'll see them someday,

Meanwhile, "I've got scores to keep!".

We've always been a family that loves to laugh. It kept us sane during the sad times...kept us going strong during the good times. Without a doubt the nonsense and levity enjoyed through the years clearly had a positive impact on Philip. Therapeutically speaking it is said that 'laughter is the best medicine'. Well he sure has had a good dose of it! And believe me...we've laughed as much with him as we have at him...it's all good! (by the way...if you haven't seen Patch Adams starring Robin Williams, you must do so. An incredible movie that epitomizes the concept of laughter as a 'medicinal must').

In the world of comedy Philip may never have made it as a 'stand-up'...but he sure nailed it as a 'sit-down'!

Take a few minutes...enjoy the lighter side of Philip!

He enjoys a good kiss!

He enjoys a good pie!

He enjoys a good prank!

He enjoys a good surprise!

He enjoys a good party!

He enjoys a good pint!

He enjoys a good pair of pants!

He enjoys a good present!

He enjoys fooling around (watch that pencil)!

He enjoys falling out of bed!

He loves his cousin Lindsay!

He hates the boardwalk to nowhere!

By the way, Philip had ANOTHER encounter with a bear (a very ferocious bear). We thought since the snow had arrived that they had all gone off to hibernate. Apparently not!

It was a harrowing experience for him...frightening to say the least. Physically he escaped unscathed. But psychologically...well...he may never recover!

You be the judge!