Those 70ish Girls

LAV:  When was the last time you laughed until you cried?
I probably have laughed a lot in my 70ish lifetime. The one time that I recall laughing and laughing and crying  hilariously was recently in South Dakota at the Martin Mason Hotel in Deadwood where my cousin Mary was my roomie in our sweet suite Cousin Blake gave us for three nights.
Mary started an impromptu video idea. She thought it all out, told me what to say and how to set up the short video. “Let’s do it!” she said. She did a pantomime of her Mom, a real character  (my Aunt Loretta) combined with another of our dear Aunt Elna. She played both parts. As I was Filming the video of Mary as Aunt Loretta smoking then hiding her cigarette in her purse, so her Dad – our straight as an arrow Grandpa Sanderson who didn’t know Loretta smoked- wouldn’t see her smoking as he came up the sidewalk, I started giggling. Then I cut over to Mary as Aunt Elna laughing and slapping her leg with Mary overdoing it but using the perfect ad lib for both characters. I lost it. I laughed so much I thought I would pee. Tears came to my eyes. It was so funny yet sentimental and I almost heard Elna’s infectious laugh and saw her face crinkle up. I could see Mary as Loretta puffing away as I panned back to Mary playing Loretta then stuffing the cigarette into her purse as the smoke lightly filtered up into the air and Mary pantomimed that, trying to fan away the smoke with her hand.
Mary played it like a true comical scene. It was genius.
Our friend Cynthia later said she broke up watching it later and that Mary she swears should do stand up.
I agree.

MG: I cried until I laughed

I think this is the best poem I have ever written…NOT

I cried most of the afternoon.

Our time to move is coming soon.

I had to go through every treasure.

Each had given so much pleasure.

Keepers will be unpacked someday.

Not here, but somewhere far away.

From many things I’d have to part.

The thought of it just broke my heart.

I fought the feelings of despair

As memories floated through the air.

Those tangible things my eyes could see.

They truly meant the world to me.

Each came from a loving friend,

Or family,…(Francis or Sanderson)

I cried while I sorted through

And separated old from new.

Should I cull all things big?

What would fit inside our rig?

I packed the things I chose to keep.

The stacks of boxes became deep.

I had no more tears to cry.

I dabbed by eyes and gave a sigh.

And then I laughed…

I hadn’t saved a bit of space.

Boxes took my treasures place.

I had no time to figure out

What things I could live without.

It didn’t matter…there weren’t any.

Kip will just have to get rid of some of his treasures.

HA!!

These are a few of my favorite things…