Right after 9/11, I was in Park Slope, and everybody thought the end of the world was imminent, so I thought to myself: what do I really want, if this is the End of Days? I promptly went on eBay and bought all the National Lampoons I could find. That was how I wanted to die: surrounded by Lampoons.
Michael O’Donahue is my favorite light in the darkness. His father called him to tell him about his mother’s life-altering injury. After letting him know she’d lost a toe,there was a silence…and then…”Did you look underneath the refrigerator?” That’s when I knew there were kindred spirits in the world. I miss that inappropriate humor; I hope you found the “Guns and Sandwiches” issue.
"I understood it all. I understood Pablo. I understood Mozart, and somewhere behind me I heard his ghastly laughter. I knew that all the hundred thousand pieces of life’s game were in my pocket . . . I would traverse not once more, but often, the hell of my inner being. One day I would be a better hand at the game. One day I would learn how to laugh. Pablo was waiting for me, and Mozart too."Steppenwolf, Hermann Hesse
Take a Dr. Strangelove, two Vonneguts, a Twain, and then go outside (or to your window-box) and cultivate your garden. Then call me in the morning. Except scratch that last step, don't call me, I have no answers and there is no cure (as you know). Beckett saw and experienced what humanity has on offer; his characters dropped their pants. What else could they do.
How do you know? (I value you and your artist wife and your column or whatever it’s called. If you’re mad in a mad world, then you’re not mad. Right? Wrong? Let’s celebrate anyhow being mad.
In our family I carry that plague of seriousness, and my Jewish husband becomes a savior of the day. He remembers millions of Soviet jokes, we call them "anekdots". A lot about KGB: Rabinovich sent a letter to KGB, "Auslander hides the diamonds in the firewood, behind his house." Later he visits his friend. "So, had they sawn up your logs?" "They even saw them into pieces!" That kind of jokes was saving our lives under communists and still help us to laugh here.
I think it was Mel Brooks that said "Tragedy is falling into a manhole. Comedy is watching someone else fall into manhole." Life's too short be dull and serious, especially with so many open manholes on the ground!
Right after 9/11, I was in Park Slope, and everybody thought the end of the world was imminent, so I thought to myself: what do I really want, if this is the End of Days? I promptly went on eBay and bought all the National Lampoons I could find. That was how I wanted to die: surrounded by Lampoons.
If there has to be a God, I hope it's Michael O'Donoghue.
Michael O’Donahue is my favorite light in the darkness. His father called him to tell him about his mother’s life-altering injury. After letting him know she’d lost a toe,there was a silence…and then…”Did you look underneath the refrigerator?” That’s when I knew there were kindred spirits in the world. I miss that inappropriate humor; I hope you found the “Guns and Sandwiches” issue.
"Children's Letters to Hitler." Life-changing.
It was our youngest - a son’s - 22nd birthday!! :/
I got home from work, & he said- mom, I don’t think I’ll ever have another Happy Birthday!!
I said, come on… we’re not going to sit & watch tv. We’re going to “Friendlies”! ;) xoxo
"I understood it all. I understood Pablo. I understood Mozart, and somewhere behind me I heard his ghastly laughter. I knew that all the hundred thousand pieces of life’s game were in my pocket . . . I would traverse not once more, but often, the hell of my inner being. One day I would be a better hand at the game. One day I would learn how to laugh. Pablo was waiting for me, and Mozart too."Steppenwolf, Hermann Hesse
Start every day with a smile, and get it over with.
W C Fields 😎
True. But I think WC started it with a little whiskey, too.
I’m sure!
Love that Robin Williams photo. And The New Yorker response (crazy) :)
Take a Dr. Strangelove, two Vonneguts, a Twain, and then go outside (or to your window-box) and cultivate your garden. Then call me in the morning. Except scratch that last step, don't call me, I have no answers and there is no cure (as you know). Beckett saw and experienced what humanity has on offer; his characters dropped their pants. What else could they do.
His pants fell when he took his belt off to hang himself. Curtain. What a God.
Too wonderfully funny!! Make me laugh, I’ll follow you anywhere. That’s my motto. Thank you, Shalom, and all you commenters/ mentors. Crazy Jane🙃
"We're all mad here!"
How do you know? (I value you and your artist wife and your column or whatever it’s called. If you’re mad in a mad world, then you’re not mad. Right? Wrong? Let’s celebrate anyhow being mad.
Close comma to protect the insanity.
Good point - it's a Alice in Wonderland quote. I'm a big fan of madness, it's how I avoid seriousness.
In our family I carry that plague of seriousness, and my Jewish husband becomes a savior of the day. He remembers millions of Soviet jokes, we call them "anekdots". A lot about KGB: Rabinovich sent a letter to KGB, "Auslander hides the diamonds in the firewood, behind his house." Later he visits his friend. "So, had they sawn up your logs?" "They even saw them into pieces!" That kind of jokes was saving our lives under communists and still help us to laugh here.
My last bout with it almost killed me.
Now, this is why I subscribe.
I think it was Mel Brooks that said "Tragedy is falling into a manhole. Comedy is watching someone else fall into manhole." Life's too short be dull and serious, especially with so many open manholes on the ground!
I second "Blazing Saddles".
I third it.
MASH always works. Take a few episodes of season 6-8 and call me in the morning-
The New Yorker response is the best! Thanks Shalom. Keep looking.
Kind hearts and Coronets. Alec Guinness. Best movie ever.
That was the first movie my parents saw together!!!!OMG!!!!
Loved that film
‘Young Frankenstein’ is always effective
I recommend “It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World.”