THE LOST LAUGHTER OF YOUTH

Ok, when's the last time you heard a good laugh? One that made you laugh? One that you wished your mouth was bigger so you could stretch that smile wider across your face?

I thought so. It's probably been awhile.

Oh, we hear laughter. But most of it is annoying. Or forced. Or out of habit. Mostly in a group of people.

But to hear innocent, pure laughter for perhaps no reason, or a least no good reason is rare. You must have a kid around you to hear it. For only the young know how to laugh.

Laughing until their tummys filled with sugar hurt. Laughing and not caring if they drool a little or snort in their guffawing. But it's not really a guffaw, which to me is more like a horse laugh. Theirs is the laugh of genuinosoty, maybe genuineness is the word. It's a laugh that says,"I think that's funny and I'm laughing. Join in if you like. But if you don't it won't stop me."

When completed, a big breath, deep and long is required. Only to be interrupted by another big laugh.