Serious Every Day

I have been serious every day of my life

And now

I can’t stop laughing

Giggling when I make mistakes or 

When non-harmful accidents happen

Laughing so hard at Steve Carrell in 

Bruce Almighty* that my abdomen hurts

Not being able to breathe while the 

Tears stream out of my eyes 

Giddy

Except maybe when I was a little girl

I can imagine myself laughing a lot then

Snickering at all the serious  big people 

Around me

Chuckling at nonsensical silliness

I have a family member who, when he was young and

Make a mistake, instead of saying how stupid he was

(Like most children I knew)

He would say: “How silly!”

I marveled at how his parents must have raised him

What joy, what comfort, what fun!

Maybe this only happens when

We older people have suffered and

Felt so much grief, sadness, and rage

So much of our lives that 

It is time to let go and

Let the child-like goofiness emerge

Bubbling up from way deep down inside

Hidden away for so very long

Now, we are so easily taken by surprise and 

Hope that we are not acting too sacrilegious or

Irreverent

And, now

If we are

Who cares?

* the clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iplfWUtKMzI