“We don’t laugh because we’re happy – we’re happy because we laugh.” –William James quote

When last seen, the hero of our story was trapped, like Clark Kent on a planet without a phone booth, in a mere mortal’s self-identity (not to say a cheap suit). So our champion of truth and beauty can’t save his own buff bod (let alone the planet) from the mother and father of all grave and fatal metaphors: Newton’s Gravity and Father Time. This serious predicament is a laughing matter.

“There are some things so serious you have to laugh at them.” –Niels Bohr

     It’s a laughing matter because, even though mired in the material trappings of a mere mortal metaphor, the mind can make a thought.

“As soon as you have made a thought, laugh at it.” –Lao Tzu

    A serious thought we laugh at longer and harder in our book: To uncloak the mind from grave and fatal metaphors which cause fear and unhappiness, and worse, you don’t need a phone booth. To free the mind from identifying solely with a bundle of nerves in a bag of bones (not to say a cheap suit), a cell or CB radio will do.

“When you are on the phone or on the air, you have no body.” –Marshall McLuhan

    True, such thoughts do sound irrational. But rationality is not all it’s cracked up to be.

“Those who can laugh without cause have either found the true meaning of happiness or have gone stark raving mad.” –Norm Papernick

    More serious thoughts to laugh with the gods at: Newton’s law of gravity was repealed by Einstein’s relativity. The distinction between Father Time’s relatives, the past, present, and future, is only an illusion. Life, the universe, et al., arises from thoughts and words. Laughter causes happiness. Happiness is why we are here. If these irrational-sounding thoughts do not cause you to laugh, no worries! Laugh for no reason than to make yourself happy for no reason. If your sides are splitting, even while sitting, you’re up, up and away.

“The highest state is laughter.” –Maharishi Mahesh Yogi quote