laughter – DiabetesDad

This week is blog week and we, the DOC Bloggers, have all been given a title for each day of the week and asked to write on this topic.the fourth entry into blog week we are asked to address the following title: FREAKY FRIDAY. If you could switch chronic disease, which one would you choose to deal with instead of diabetes (and has participation in the DOC affected how I treat others with other medical conditions).

I’m not so sure where this question came from but it had me scratching my head. But I agreed to answer the questions all week so I will do as I promised. To actually wish my children had a chronic disease other than diabetes would suggest (to me anyway) that I would think one chronic disease is better, easier, or in some way placing our household in a better position than having diabetes.

I can’t do that. THAT is not the case.

Well maybe I can, there might be one. In the movie Mary Poppins Uncle Albert (Famous character actor Ed Wynn) and Bert (DIck Van Dyke) suffer with uncontrollable, chronic, laughter which makes them levitate. The harder they laugh, the higher they go. The idea is that laughter lightens the mood. That is the ONLY disease I would switch with diabetes. But uncontrollable laughter is not a real chronic disease and I am taking ‘artistic license’ here because there is no real chronic disease we would ever consider.

We do with what we have and go forward.

I have never once compared a disease to diabetes, nor wished we had ‘only that’ to deal with instead of diabetes, as I have heard others do so since our first child was diagnosed and quite frankly we just do not agree with it. Any family dealing with ANYTHING has it tougher than those that do not. Period.

My involvement with the DOC has nothing to do with how we treat others affected with other medical conditions either. It has made me more aware, but we are at this long before the DOC was in place and our compassion comes from ‘life’ dealing with people who we both know and love; and we did not need any help in this area on how we treat others.

Let me ask you a question. What do you think of today’s question; how would you have answered it? Please reply to this blog and let us all know what you think. I thought about it for a long time before I answered, but what do I know? This blog is just me and I will always defer to others, who know so much more than I so please chime in today; how would you have answered?

I am a diabetes dad.

Please visit my Diabetes Dad FB Page and hit ‘like’.

Well if anyone can handle this, you guys can. Really? I have always wanted to punch in the nose whoever said those words to me; and every time I heard them. I do believe I would be left with many less friends though, so I refrain. We heard the words a lot over the years but more than I could handle after Rob was diagnosed.

I have never for one second believed that statement as I believe the roadway on the new normal is much to do with a ‘learn-as-you-go’ journey.

What I do believe, however, is there is something in us that we have that helps us greatly on this journey and that is what I want to address today. Something we always had, that when needed, it was already there ready for use. In our house it was a few things and I can pinpoint them immediately.

We have always lived with the notion that music and laughter must be in our house. Almost every morning, the first thing we do is turn on the radio so music plays all day long. My dad used to do that every day; I grew up with the sounds of Glen Miller and all of the great golden era music; and Jill’s house also did the same. During the holidays each of us has our own favorite song; and we each know them.

We also love to laugh. Not at someone’s expense as much as we all just look at things in a manner that is a little weird that makes us laugh. Someone will say, or do, something that we all find so funny; we do enjoy each other and when all of us are together, one thing is a sure bet; we will laugh. We all have a unique way of looking at things, and sometimes pretty twisted as well.

Whether it is a play on words, or buying someone 48 boxes of pop tarts because you bought them a toaster, ‘and well they need something to put in the toaster’, or a funny thing shared from the internet–we just love to laugh in our house; and we do.

We have tried to make sure both music and laughter stayed even with everything life has thrown at us. I have often said that laughter is the ballet of life. Master it and you can get through anything. Music is the baseline for which we walk, walk with a little beat in your steps and the traveling load will be that much lighter.

What do you use in your ‘new normal’ that you are so grateful was part of your life before that you lean on often. Life is an amazing journey; sometimes there is MUCH thrown at us. During those times, what do you rely on to help? Please let us know as you might be helping someone else.

I am a diabetes dad.

Visit my Diabetes Dad FB Page and hit ‘like’.

Tag: laughter

BLOG WEEK ENTRY 5: SERIOUSLY????? I Don’t Think So.

On What Do You Lean? Please Share.