Today is the 10th anniversary of the passing of someone very, very special, to me, as well as to many, many others. My uncle Dennis. In honor of this 10th anniversary, my brother, Dave, compiled and released a series of videos from Dennis’ memorial. What does this have to do with laughter? Everything!
Dennis was by far one of the funniest people I have ever known. And I am not alone in feeling that way. I just watched 28 video tributes to Dennis loaded with gems about his sense of humor. Dennis loved to laugh and he loved make those around him laugh. Dennis did things like show up to help his friends move with a note from his Mom excusing him from helping, or drive through tunnels blaring Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture with the windshield cleaner spraying, the windshield wipers going, headlights flashing, all the windows down, and his arm out the window conducting.
Dennis taught me by example to laugh and to find the humor in things, even the bad things. For example, when he was undergoing treatment for brain cancer and seeing Drs. Green and Cloughesy (sounds like “Klausy”) at UCLA Neurosurgery, he asked that they introduce themselves in the following way: “I’m Dr. Green and I feel keen; I’m Dr. Cloughesy and I feel lousy”. He had a gift for finding comedy in the irony and the absurd.
Why is this so important? Because humor and laughter trigger healthy physical changes in your body by strengthening your immune system, boosting your energy, diminishing your pain, and reducing the damaging effects of stress. Plus shared humor and laughter strengthen relationships by bringing people together and increasing intimacy and happiness. And the best part is that this medicine is fun, it’s free, and it’s easy to use! For more on the benefits of laughter, go to http://www.helpguide.org/life/humor_laughter_health.htm.
Miss you, Deno.
Dennis was by far one of the funniest people I have ever known. And I am not alone in feeling that way. I just watched 28 video tributes to Dennis loaded with gems about his sense of humor. Dennis loved to laugh and he loved make those around him laugh. Dennis did things like show up to help his friends move with a note from his Mom excusing him from helping, or drive through tunnels blaring Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture with the windshield cleaner spraying, the windshield wipers going, headlights flashing, all the windows down, and his arm out the window conducting.
Dennis taught me by example to laugh and to find the humor in things, even the bad things. For example, when he was undergoing treatment for brain cancer and seeing Drs. Green and Cloughesy (sounds like “Klausy”) at UCLA Neurosurgery, he asked that they introduce themselves in the following way: “I’m Dr. Green and I feel keen; I’m Dr. Cloughesy and I feel lousy”. He had a gift for finding comedy in the irony and the absurd.
Why is this so important? Because humor and laughter trigger healthy physical changes in your body by strengthening your immune system, boosting your energy, diminishing your pain, and reducing the damaging effects of stress. Plus shared humor and laughter strengthen relationships by bringing people together and increasing intimacy and happiness. And the best part is that this medicine is fun, it’s free, and it’s easy to use! For more on the benefits of laughter, go to http://www.helpguide.org/life/humor_laughter_health.htm.
Miss you, Deno.