Hitting The Funny Bone In The Danger Zone
Do you wonder how others cope during stressful times? Ever watch from miles away and say “I wonder how they’re dealing? Well, with the danger of Hurricane Irma looming, you probably wonder about that right now.
I’ll tell you, for many Floridians… hitting the funny bone in the danger zone is the only way to keep a little sanity. With some jokes, you wonder if we actually have any sanity at all.
Nerves are sky high. For just about all of Florida, we wonder if we’ll have a home to come home to. Those are the ones that have evacuated. Others, for their own reasons that have not, most of all wonder if they’ll be okay. No one is taking it lightly. Our emotions go from fear, anxiety, some panic, and for others, no panic at all. I personally get so sick wondering how my mobile home will withstand high winds and more…yet, from one moment to the next, laughter brings my stomach also to an ache… but a good ache.
For me, Hurricane Irma added to the anxiety I was already feeling as I was shocked over the news of a friend passing from Cancer. We all thought she had more time. It was devastating. I’ve been an irritable and sad mess. With that said, I’m not downplaying Hurricane Irma or disregarding how others are feeling. I understand completely. What I’m saying is for me and for many Floridians, laughter shuts up our inner voice, the one that wants to remind you of everything that’s gone wrong.
Social media has its positives. For example, I was so engrossed in the news, I never noticed before the peculiar faces made by the signers for the hearing impaired. I hadn’t noticed until someone not only mentioned it, but shared a few photos. Now, when I watch the stressful news, I’m slightly amused and distracted watching the signers. Now, a smile on my face.
Today I enjoyed watching a friend post in the usual facebook social group…. a question. He was bored. He asked how to get his car out of the garage if they lose power… they have an electric garage door opener. We are not close friends, but from what I know of him, there was no doubt for me that he was joking. What was more amusing though was those that took him seriously. They innocently wanted to assist. Their suggestions, reasonable.
For the rest of us, our answers were not. I suggested Magic, several suggested a chainsaw, and others just made him face the fact that he would be doomed.
I think by now, we’ve all seen the meme going around on facebook of people turning their fans on and aiming it at Irma. That should keep her away! One of my meme faves is the giant condom over Florida. Really, when it comes to facebook…..you see it all.
I am grateful for it. I’m grateful for the temporary pauses from the stress, the belly aches of laughter, the moments of sickness and insanity. Yes, sickness. When you see what is posted sometimes, you say “that’s a sick sense of humor” but you laugh, and you laugh hard.
I write this with the news on, I can hear the newscasters speaking so quickly, so worried. Yet my eyes go back to the laptop and I still laugh at yet another post as I click to the other tab opened to facebook.
Bottom line, we laugh for as long as we can. We know when things get real and it’s time to get serious again, we will. We also know that we have our funny bone but we also have strength and compassionate hearts. When it’s time to roll up the sleeves, to help our neighbors, to come back to reality, we will. That is not a Floridian thing, that is being human. I just think when it comes to natural disasters, Floridians have had all these qualities tested more than most other places.
I don’t think many would disagree, Floridians are Pro’s at this.
With that said, I’m off to go watch the news while I scroll through facebook as usual. It won’t be long before pictures are shared that we don’t want to see. So for now, I’m looking for the next laugh. Calm, cool, and acting like fools. I encourage you all to like my facebook page and show your humorous side. Keep the laughter going…..no one should laugh alone.
May God bless us all.
Glad you’re safely home!
Thank you so much