Professionals tell us that two human emotions cannot occupy the same space at the same time...you're either sad...or you're happy! My choice is to be happy...or, at least try to be happy!

I've been in the humor business for a long time, and I never get tired of putting a smile on somebody's face, even if it's just for a few seconds, etc. The sound of laughter is great! Humor started for me when I was eleven years old, and you can read about how it all started in another piece I wrote entitled, How I Got Started in Humor.

Laughter is the best medicine, and it has been humor that has helped me to cope through my darkest days...and, there have been many! Humor is therapeutic for me...and, I use it through thick and thin. Everytime I put a smile on somebody's face, it makes my day...it gives me a lift. I know I've done something to make somebody happy, and that's important to me.

So, how does humor help me to cope? Example: I was in the hospital once for about a week, and when I got there, I was in intensive care, with a bleeding stomach! One day, a nurse came into the room carrying a clip board and she was going to ask me several questions. She said there were about 15 questions she would ask me, so she began.

Everytime she would ask me a question, I would answer it with a silly or ridiculous answer in an attempt to make her laugh, and then I would follow the silly answer with a straight and serious answer! It was a little game I was playing with her, and she seemed to enjoy it. The nurse asked me questions that went something like this:

Nurse: "Mr. Aragon, do you smoke?"

Jerry: "Only when I'm on fire!"

Nurse: "Mr. Aragon, do you drink?"

Jerry: "Drink what? Orange juice...carrot juce...what? I don't drink anymore...I don't drink any less, either!" (Gotcha)

Nurse: "Mr. Aragon, are you allergic to anything?"

Jerry: Only to nosey nurses who ask too many questions!

Anyway, the questions and answers went something like that, and it was fun! And, I remember a couple of times, I had that nurse in stitches...get it..."stitches!" Hospital? Oh, well...After the questions and answers, the nurse dissapeared for the rest of the day, and before her shift was over, she came into my room and gave me a big hug! "What was THAT for?" I asked! "That's for making my day and making me laugh earlier today!" she said...and then she said good-bye and left the room. That big hug made my day, too, and this is one example of how humor help me to cope, sometimes under serious conditions like being in the hospital.

Staisfaction rewarding gratifying...those are the words that describe what it is like to be in the humor business...making people happy! But, making people happy happens to all of us. How many times have you given a child a present at Christmas time or on a birthday, and you watch that child open that gift! That child's face lights up...the big smile on that childs face...You have a GREAT feeling inside your heart...your eyes become a little glassy...and you have a warm feeling all over, which you cannot describe! It gives you a lift and it's gratifying to see the look on that child's face!

You don't have to say or do anything funny to bring a smile to somebody's face. Mother's and father's know that all too well. When they hear their child say their first word, brings a smile when that child takes their first step rides their first bike...a warm feeling all over! School teachers know better than anyone that great satisfaction of seeing their students write that first sentence do that first math problem and pass that first test, etc. And, I think that's why school teachers do what they do...the gratification of it all.

But, nobody has cornered the market on humor or on smiles,etc. All of us has made somebody laugh at one time or another, and we all know how good that feels. The gratification a person gets from putting a smile on a person's face cannot be measured! And, we all put smiles on people's faces in different ways and make them happy all the time. It's a never-ending process in America! A few examples follow:

Farmers and ranchers that put food on the table, and don't get the credit they deserve. That good food sure makes us happy, right? the people who deliver the goods...the truck drivers and delivery people. There was a nation-wide strike back in the 1970's, and it was scary for a lot of people. There was a run on the grocery stores, as shelves began to empty out very quickly. Panic struck, and pushing and shoving began!

All the people who produce the goodies that we all enjoy candy bakery goods ice cream,etc. The financial people who help us with our finances the food preparers and eating places we all enjoy the veterinarians who help us keep our pets well the medical people who help us stay healthy the transportation people who get us from place to place make us happy. The sciece and technology people who make our lives simpler...what we do without engineers? how about the garbage people who keep disease under control by removing trash the construction industry who built our homes apartments or work places the retail industry who are most happy to take our credit cards. The list is never-ending!

All the people in America share and give of themselves in every occupation and profession. Everyone has something to contribute to make things better for others. Everyone has a passion, and it is that passion that makes that person happy, and will hopefully make others happy as well.

My passion just happens to be humor, and I take it everywhere I go. Humor for me is not an 8-5 job...it's 24/7! I work all holidays and never take any days off...and I love it!

Jerry Aragon  humordoctormd.homestead.com