Happy April Fools Day Gran

Today marks an important day in my life, a day that I learned that humor and laughter can go a long way with regard to making people feel better.

About 40 years ago-ish I sent an April Fools Day phone call down the hill to my grandparents house (Gran and Pop to us locals) with giddy anticipation. When Gran picked up the phone I overexcitedly screamed “Gran your chicken coop is on fire!!!”

My exclamation carried weight, as we had direct line-of-site to said coop through the fields between our houses, and a burning chicken coop… well, that ain’t no joke.

Not sure what to expect, I panicked when I heard the scream and a thump as the heavy phone receiver hit the counter as she dropped the phone and ran for the door. I turned and looked at my parents (who were in on the joke) and they could tell by the look on my face that, well, maybe we didn’t think through this joke thing as well as we should have.

Not sure what to do, I waited, saying nothing. Then, experiencing the greatest feeling of relief I’d ever experienced at that young age, I heard Gran pick up the phone receiver laughing out loud.

Through the laughter she relayed that she realized it was an April Fools joke and that I got her good. We both laughed and chatted for a minute more, then hung up and moved on.

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It’s funny how these things affect us. Over the years I’ve been known to downplay messy situations by lightening the situation or laughing at the bits that could be funny – sometimes to a detriment as people would say “this isn’t funny”. But, it’s just how I deal with these things. I’ve often wondered if this situation made me value the power of laughter in a tense situation. It makes sense, but it’s hard to say I suppose.

Regardless, I’m forever grateful for that life lesson on April Fool’s Day in early 1980-something, and thanks Gran (and you too, Pop) for teaching me the powerful force that a little laughter can be.