GIGGLES ARE STRONGER THAN TEARS

There are things that happen between a husband and wife that live forever under a veil of secrecy.  You make an unwritten (and unsaid) pact to never divulge the private things that go on for fear of embarrassment or humiliation and because it's no ones business but your own.  But in those moments, lie some of the funniest, craziest and magical moments of a person's life.  I've been chuckling the last few days about the many situations that created so much laughter and joy, I thought I'd share a few with you.

Holly was the sweetest woman I've ever known but she had a hilarious side to her that came from being trite, sarcastic and vain. She wasn't like that in real life, but she "played to it" whenever she had a chance. Often, when she would be out with her sister Linda in social situations, she would introduce herself as Linda's sister and always add, "I'm the cute one."   Before Linda could respond, Holly would quickly interject, "And I'm the smart one too!"   She would often tell me that "vanity has its advantages", so just be funny, she had me put up a series of strategically placed mirrors that led from our upstairs bedroom, through the hallway, down the stairs, through the living room, the kitchen and into the garage. I started to call her "Maleficent" (the name of the wicked witch in Sleeping Beauty) after that, so she put a curse on me that turned my skin green (see picture above).

She also didn't have problem dropping a well placed F-bomb when she felt like it.  Unfortunately, she would occasionally let one slip out when daughter Emily was within earshot.  It's wasn't too long before we found out how close the "fruit falls from the tree."  On a cold and snowy morning, Holly hustled 4- year old Emily into her car seat and backed out of the driveway, already 10 minutes late.  A block down the street, she hit brakes and made a quick U-turn.

"Where are we going, Mommy?" asked Emily.

"We have to go back, dear. Mommy forgot the lunches on the counter," replied Holly.

"Mommy, you forgot to say fuck," shouted Emily.

"What did you say?" shrieked Holly.

"You always say fuck when you forget the lunches, Mommy," said Emily.

I'm one of those guys that likes to talk about "our relationship" and "if every one's needs are being met." Holly would mock me by saying we should keep secret lists of things we wanted to "fix" in each other so we could make sure that things were constantly improving. So if I would do something she didn't like, she would scribble a little note on a post-it, so she could add it to the "List" later on.  If we really wanted a good laugh, she would dictate the verbiage of her note so I could hear it.  "Unwilling-to-go-and-get-ice cream-for-me. Has-compliance-issues."

Since the lists were supposedly "secret," we couldn't say what was on the list, but we could reveal the number of items.  So when I would do something Holly liked, she would say, "that's great honey, I think the list is under 50 now!"  She also had a lighting-quick wit that made any situation erupt in laughter.

While driving by a sewage treatment plant, I looked at her and sarcastically asked, "Did you fart?" Without a pause, she responded, "Do you want me to?"    One night while we snuggled in bed, she whispered into my ear, "I love you, Benny."  I squeezed her tight and asked the rhetorical question, "Would you follow me to the end of the Earth?"  She gave me a quick kiss and said, "As long as there's a WalMart."

Today makes seven years she's been gone and though I miss her everyday,  I've got past the sadness.   Her personality and wit brought so much humor and laughter to my life that now I just giggle when I think about her.

I learned that giggles are so much stronger than tears.