It is a fair, even-handed, noble adjustment of things, that while there is infection in disease and sorrow, there is nothing in the world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good-humour. – A Christmas Carol

My Take – When I’m around a bunch of happy people, I feel better, and eventually I start to laugh along with them.  Being happy is sometimes hard to do, but it almost creates a feedback loop when people start to make each other happy.  Tell an old joke to someone who hasn’t heard it, and you will get as much pleasure out of it as they did when they start to laugh.  I love going to the range and shooting, but doing it with a crowd of friends is much more enjoyable, as experiences are shared and stories are swapped.  Think of how much we react to the sound of children and babies laughing, as well as the laughter of other adults, and you may discover the reason we are a social creature:  We enjoy the happiness of others.

“Did you ever taste beer?” “I had a sip of it once,” said the small servant. “Here’s a state of things!” cried Mr Swiveller, raising his eyes to the ceiling. “She never tasted it — it can’t be tasted in a sip!” — The Old Curiosity Shop

My Take – Life must be taken in deep draughts.  In order to know whether or not you like something, you must experience it.  If all it takes is a tiny sample or a small amount of time to experience it, so be it.  But if it requires a lot of tries to truly know its true nature, take the time to know whether or not it is for you.  Life is not won by those who didn’t learn drink deep from it.

Accidents will occur in the best regulated families; and in families not regulated by that pervading influence which sanctifies while it enhances the—a—I would say, in short, by the influence of Woman, in the lofty character of Wife, they may be expected with confidence, and must be borne with philosophy. — David Copperfield

My Take – I don’t know where I’d be without Irish Woman.  Oh, I’d get through life, but it wouldn’t be half as easy or as fun.  She is the head project manager, dispute resolver, transportation specialist, and logistician of our little family.  She knows just what we all need, when we need it, and never stops until things are taken care of.  I imagine it’s like that in most families.  One of the adults is the one who keeps the wheels on and rolling.

Let’s face it, I’m a pretty boring individual.  I’m dependable, but I don’t have much imagination when it comes to day-to-day life. When Irish Woman met me, I fed myself and the kids on a few dishes that I could make easily, quickly, and inexpensively on Sunday and re-heat through the week.  My wardrobe and a lot of the other cloth articles in the house were either gray, so that everything matched, or white, so that I could just bleach something to make it look right.  My walls were the same off-white that the house came with.  Our idea of weekend entertainment were endless walks in the park and reading Dr. Seuss.  She not only accepted that, but added her own flare that has made life much more interesting and worth living.  Before, life was survival.  Now, it is lived.