Mom Traits: HUMOR

I was going to call this trait "Weirdness", but I thought "Humor" was a nicer title.  The big idea is, my mom is funny, wacky, goofy, witty, weird - - all of the above.  It's a great trait and I'm happy to write about it today.  This is number four out of five posts to honor things I love about my mom.

 

 

My mom has a wacky side.  She loves to laugh and find the humor in life.  Exhibit A is the photo I chose for this post.  Years ago, my mom had carpal tunnel surgery and this is how the post-surgery bandaging ended up.  My mom got such a kick out of it.  Everywhere she went, there was a new opportunity to share a laugh with someone over her forced flip off.

 

Another time, my mom and I went shoe shopping.  We were trying on sandals and taking up most of the aisle with our discarded options.  Another shopper stepped over everything to get past us.  My mom, standing on one foot, trying to wriggle her other foot into a wedge sandal, apologized, “Oh, sorry!  My daughter is trying to get me into a wedgie!”  I quickly corrected her and she thought it was hilarious.  “Well, at least I stopped saying thong!”  (for flip-flops)

 

When I was little, and didn’t want to go to bed, a character named Jo Jo Boo would show up.  Jo Jo Boo looked a lot like my mom and she always wanted to go to sleep in my bed.  When Jo Jo Boo covered herself with my blankets and held my stuffed animals, I laughed and argued with her that it was really my bed.  By the end of Jo Jo’s antics, I was begging to have Jo Jo get out of my bed so I could get in.

 

I’m having trouble capturing my mom’s sense of humor into stories.  So much of it happens as a quick-witted comment in the moment.  She pays attention to what’s going on around her and finds something funny in it.  Our family has gone through a lot of heavy and difficult things, but there’s always been a reprieve of laughter too.  Those who have spent time with her know what I’m talking about.  My mom’s older sister once gave gifts to the other sisters.  The youngest sister got something with the word “Joy” on it, and they teased each other that Rene was the joyful sister.  Mom, I’m here to tell you that you are very much a joy-bringer too.  Thanks for the joy you bring to others.

 

Remember the 80's?  Our family has some laughs over this photo arrangement.