Getting cancer or taking on a major life hurdle isn’t funny, but good humor will help you stay positive, reduce your stress, and make people around you more comfortable with helping you through it all. When I was in 2nd grade at St. Mary’s School Sister Theophane asked us all one day what we wanted to be when we got older. A few brown nosers said “Priests”, “Nuns” and the other classics were rattled off as well: firefighters, doctors, cops, teachers, etc. Always a rebel, I told her I wanted to be a comedian. She looked at me like I had ordered a hamburger on a Friday during Lent. Later in the day I was doing a Red Skelton routine for Mike Shaw and Bud Dickerson which earned me an immediate trip to the Principal’s Office of Sister Rosa Mystica. She schooled me on how my classroom performance was not funny and bordered on a sin. The end result was The Sisters of St. Joseph that very day converted my sense of humor from very animated to bone dry. Now, unfortunately, most people can’t tell whether I’m being serious or funny. When I was enrolling in the CAR-T transplant program at Moffitt Cancer Center, Dr. Khimani and staff asked me a battery of questions to complete the research protocols. Towards the end he asked, “will you agree to donate any extra CAR-T cells to Moffitt Cancer Center for research?” I responded, “Can I sell them on Ebay instead?” Diane said, “Oh my God,” the researchers hid behind their clipboards, and Dr. Khimani gave me nothing but crickets. At that moment he weirdly resembled Sister Theophane; just sayin’. The same is true when your friends want to know how your doing. A couple of years ago I was at a bar in Goodland, FL with a table of people. One of them asked me how the chemo was going and I said, “Fine, except sometimes I get real sleepy all of sudden.” I then tipped over into her lap. No crickets this time, but lots of yelling. It was funny at the time. Clearly, there’s a limit to gallows humor, but a little self depreciating humor breaks a lot of ice. Keeping your humor is a difficult task especially when your in a rotten situation, but keeping it light makes it easier for people to interact and support you. Your world will be much brighter when you’re laughing with others rather than crying.
Pete – nothing is ever funny. Nothing. Love u my friend.
Eric – except when Fisherman’s Hospital use to make a lot of money.
Pete, you have an amazing gift of story-telling! Can’t wait for the next blog entry!
Stacia, thanks for reading the blog. If I could dance like Scott, then I’d be a full package of entertainment. Pete
As with every post I find a “take away”Although, I rarely have nothing to complain about, sometimes spewing negativity and complaining are all too habitual…
You always find a way of making everyone around you laugh and feel comfortable. I’m sure most people meeting you initially, would have absolutely no idea what you’re going through. You’re uplifting positivity is definitely contagious. Remember the time I crawled in the hospital bed next to yours, after your spleen surgery???? It still cracks me up! Not the surgery, the situation. Only you and Diane will get it…
Jane, remember you were so hung over that day that I offered you my morphine drip. Pete
Yes, and hindsight is 20/20, I should have taken you up on that one!
Love your blogs! Inspiring, funny; real!
Thank you
Janet, nice to hear from you! Say hello to Dieter.
Great blog, Peter! I love sharing these with dad & Mike! ☘️☘️
Enjoyed this-terrific
Paul, this is probably more entertaining than reading bond agreements. Pete
You never fail to make us laugh and amaze us – you are defo one in a million and we are proud to call you our friend
Diane and I look forward to seeing you in person sometime soon.
Great blog. I’m convinced that the body chemistry associated with humor and laughing does support the healing process.
Tom, do you remember when I wrecked my Mom’s Torino station wagon on the Cordury Road? That was pretty funny.
It took me awhile to “get you”’Pete Lawson. And boy am I glad I waited around. Your sense of humor cracks me up.
Rob, I’m glad you are doing well yourself and getting back to normal living. Slainte!
Love this one, Mr. Cockroach !❤️
Super true… really enjoy reading your blogs… thank you…