My sides are hurting. A large part from a large set of Russian Twists I did yesterday after 30 minutes on my brother’s elliptical. (woo-wee, look at me go) But now also because I was laughing so hard with my brother that I couldn’t get air in, tears were running down my face and I was afraid something was going to rupture.
There is nobody in this world who can make me laugh harder than my brother. And over nothing really. I can say or do something, and all he has to do is cock his head and raise an eyebrow and I am off. When it is Mom, Todd and I, Mom plays the straight one for us – as every comedy routine needs. But he has a talent for finding the kernel of funny in any situation. Usually in one sentence he can have the room brighter.
There is something so therapeutic about laughter. It warms up your mood, lifts your hopes and connects you to who you are with. I laugh often with friends, but there is something about my family that makes the laughter larger and more free. Perhaps it is because it’s unique to our family, our in-jokes, our strange family members and they know me. I can let loose, and let it flow out because they already have seen it all.
I don’t know, but I know it makes me feel good, makes me feel connected. It doesn’t seem to matter what it is – it is unfunny to many, but when Todd and I start, it has to run the full gamut – tears and all.
What were we laughing about on this occasion?
My brother was having a bowl of raisin bran as an evening snack.
My mom came in, noted what he was eating and said, “I don’t like raisin bran, the raisins are too hard”.
Todd said “Well, get some bran flakes and add some soft raisins.”
Mom says “I don’t like bran.”
It took about 10 minutes for us to calm down after that, with Mom coming in every couple of minutes to say “What is so funny? What is wrong with you two?”
March 8th, 2012 Extra-Ordinary Event: Bran. Who knew it was so funny?
The Daily EO 
I’m a little disappointed that you joined the masses
Then again this is the first time I have ever read a blog(knowingly)