Roses and Farts

A good laugh is good for what ails you, even if it's only for that moment that you are laughing. 

A coworker recently gave me a gag gift and convinced me I should bring it in to work to share.  It is a pen shaped like a finger and when you pull on it, it creates sounds similar to flatulence.  I work in a doctors office where outright laughter is usually greeted by a manager's stern glance and a remark about having better things to do with our time.  It's not that they don't want us to be cheerful, but they feel such gathering and laughing leaves the illusion of not caring especially when sick people are awaiting care. Idle chit chat and laughter amongst ourselves is kept to a minimum.  The pen was a different story. 

Our laughter brought tears to our eyes and others to our area to see what the commotion was about.  Even the manager with the stern glance couldn't help smiling.  My supervisor heard what was going on and had to come see, stating she was especially surprised to hear that I was the instigator.  Two days later I was still hearing people chuckling when they saw me coming and retelling the story of Terri and her wonderful pen. Sometimes it's the smallest thing that can change a dreary day.

When I was working at the auto dealership a few years back there was a young woman workng in the front office who was dating one of the young men in the recon department (for those not in the auto biz world, "recon" is the department where they make old cars look new again).  Their's was a tumultuous love, filled with much drama.  One day a beautiful bouquet of long stem red roses arrived for her.  The sight of them only angered her and she declared she would toss them in the dumpster.  I convinced her they were too pretty to throw away and that I would find a home for them.

That evening as the technicians came to the dispatch window to punch out for the day, I handed each a red rose with instructions on how to give it to their significant other.  I told them the key was to let their women believe they had just decided on a whim to get a rose for their love.  The more wizened men, smiled; the less experienced gave me quizzical looks, but assured me they would do as instructed. 

There were many smiles in the shop the next day.  Sometimes it's just the smallest things that can brighten a day.