I recently read an article about the (not so) amazing benefits of laughter (found here: http://www.webmd.com/balance/features/give-your-body-boost-with-laughter) , which got me thinking… When was the last time you had a really splendid giggle? A laugh-until-you-cried laugh? If it’s been more than a few days, then it may have been too long.

My coworkers and I went for lunch one bright day…nothing special, just a little spot nearby that has really good pork barbeque sandwiches ( which is a specialty in our part of the country and not at all what you might expect since no BBQ sauce is involved)….and ice cream! Not necessarily a great combo, but when you have a few hours to kill…

If you know anything about me yet, you know one thing for sure; wherever I go, laughter ensues. Not to say that I can’t be serious, I can, but giggles are just so nice, really, aren’t they? So it doesn’t take very long before we are doing more laughing than eating, before we are quoting Seinfeld episodes, Big Bang Theory, and generally having more fun than anyone else in the place. Not unusual, actually; I like to enjoy myself.

It’s a Friday, by the by. This means it’s the one day a week I allow myself a soda (or Pop, depending on your location), specifically Mountain Dew Voltage: Bottled Blue Bliss. 90 lovely mg’s of caffeinated liquid candy to supercharge my morning, since I am most assuredly NOT a morning person. On top of that I’ve also ingested an additional 96 mg’s of caffeine thanks to a morning Starbuck’s Gingerbread Mocha Chai Latte (but that is a post entirely worthy of itself!) In other words, I am about as revved as a person can legally be during the first three hours of the work day.

I confess Diet Coke with lunch was not a brilliant idea and at this point, I am the resident entertainment for my coworkers, it’s a lark, if you can keep up with me, but this is not the end of the story…No No No! This is the beginning. I mentioned this lovely little luncheonette serves Ice Cream, did I not? Yes, I did and they do, but they do not serve just the plain old dish with a few rainbow sprinkles; they create masterpieces of confection worthy of the Louvre.

Admittedly, the sundae should have been the entire meal, but in all honesty, it was an afterthought, and in spite of my vociferous protestations, my charming coworkers select the perfect dessert prepared especially for me.

Peanut Butter Overload. (and yes, it is everything it’s name promises it will be) Chocolate ice cream, hot fudge, liquid peanut butter, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup pieces, peanuts and, in case that isn’t quite enough sugar to put you into a coma, whipped cream with three….THREE…cherries. (feel free to insert orgasmic sigh here) Heaven Help Me!

Thirty minutes later, I am officially buzzed without having ingested even an infinitesimal drop of alcohol, but we have to get back to work, believe it or not. Into the car we climb (and I actually manage that miraculous feat without incident), and off we go. 15 minute drive, Easy Peasy, right?

Wrong.

I cannot honestly tell you what set me off. In my state, it may have been anything, but I start giggling. It’s a cute little giggle, really, and it’s as infectious as any giggle could be. Unaware of the joke, my coworkers join in and before long we are all laughing, which is ridiculous, since no one knows what we are laughing at, which makes me laugh all the more; curls bouncing, tears coming, cant-catch-my-breath mirth that has a predictable outcome. Everyone else laughs too, until we are all breathless and teary-eyed.

Honestly, I have no idea how we got back to work, since my friend driving the car was crying so hard she couldn’t possibly see the road, but make it back we did and, after sitting in the parking lot for another five minutes catching our breath we finally dismount and adjourn to the office.

Not amazingly, (after the queue for the loo diminished) although the morning had been taxing, we now felt refreshed, rejuvenated and (I’m looking for another R-word)…revitalized; sugar and caffeination not withstanding, (since I was the only one thusly intoxicated.)

So the next time you are feeling peckish, feel free to find a little luncheonette and enjoy a bite with your crew, but be sure,

be Absolutely SURE,

that you have yourself an UTTERLY SPLENDID GIGGLE.

~Morgan~

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