In our family, crazy relatives supplied the medicine.  Everyone needs crazy relatives to bring laughter to our lives.  Nephew Bruce, my eldest sister Pat’s son, and his daughter, Kathryn, embody the laughter spirit. 

Bruce sent “It’s a Girl” flower bouquet with a stuffed animal to my other sister, Kathy, after she broke her hip while trying to sit on an office chair on wheels that rolled away, without her consent.  Bam!  On the hard basement floor she fell, breaking her hip bone.  A year ago Kathy broke her right shinbone!  Is this a yearly happening?    Back to Muskegon Mercy Hospital for another pin surgery by the same doctor!  

Nephew Bruce won the North Carolina “Groan Joke Award” and a carefully chosen gift must commerate Kathy’s second break!  GROAN!  So of course his daughter, Kathryn—who now works in the Kalamazoo, Michigan area—proudly showcased the gift and declared it most appropriate when she personally visited.  GROAN!  

We all laughed!

And that is the second best gift you can give someone experiencing a challenge — Laughter.  

The first gift is to visit the person.  Not a text, tweet, Facebook, or even a phone call.  Go see the person in person and make them laugh.  Personal visit and laughter — the best medicines!  

So when the younger generation brags about posting something on social media, we should ask the person, “Have you recently visited someone who experiences an illness or injury?”   

NEXT:  FINDING GLADYS CONTINUES…