I was getting prepped for a house cleaning session and decided to listen to something different while scrubbing.
Usually music’s playing, but I’ve listened to the same playlist for months and wanted to be entertained while cleaning the shower.
While scrolling through YouTube, I came across Sinbad the comedian. I immediately put him on, and laughed myself silly for the next 45 minutes.
Sinbad, also known as David Adkins, has made a career out of performing clean comedy, both on HBO and Comedy Central, and now on YouTube.
He’s had his troubles over the years, especially with not paying back taxes, but his sense of humor has stayed intact.
For instance, when you get older, you don’t want a young girlfriend. You want one that knows the signs of stroke.
Sinbad’s references to the 1970s pop culture are right on the money and hit home with those of us who loved Afros and bellbottoms. It’s a genuine pleasure to laugh down memory lane with Sinbad.
YouTube is a gold mine for up-and-coming comics. Gerry Brooks is an elementary-school principal who has on-the-money commentaries and “surgestions” for parents and teachers.
There’s a great series of things Southern women say, like “dern,” “how can I be out of hair spray,” and “bless her heart.”
I’m not quite sure why some young comics, like PewDiePie, are so popular, but they regularly rank up millions of views among teens.
Most comics got their start performing for family and friends, and most of us have one natural comic in our midst.
They’re the ones who make us chuckle in the midst of overflowing toilets, fender benders and cooking disasters. They ensure we know it’s okay to laugh at ourselves because the first laugh is always at themselves.
During a conversation with my friend Pat, I told her I couldn’t remember the last time I’d dusted the furniture.
“My living room looks like cocaine dealers live here,” she shot back, making me laugh and not feel so bad about being a rotten housekeeper.
Our brother Jeff has an incredible sense of humor. His blog, A Nerd’s Country Journal, included funny aspects of a self-described “techno-geek” living on a 100-acre Texas ranch.
One of his posts is legendary among family and friends – his detailed attempt at cooking a turkey, complete with a step-by-step narrative of just how wrong things could go.
My mom has a great sense of humor, and she’s the first one to laugh at some of the off-hand remarks she’s made over the years.
When I was having a tough day, she told me to keep all my chins up.
When I could tell she wasn’t listening to what I was telling her and wondered if we should have her checked, she put me in my place with a smile.
“I’m not senile. I’m just not that interested in everything you have to say,” she said.
Many years ago, our dad had a heart attack, and all of us were in the hospital waiting room, nervously waiting for the doctor.
My brother Joey picked up the pay phone, and I asked him who he was going to call since we were all there.
Without missing a beat, he said “Ghostbusters.”
All of us paused and then laughed until we had tears running down our faces. Joey gave us the relief we needed.
The next time you’re with the family jokester, make sure they know how valuable they are to the family.
They make fun of themselves, see the humor in the darkest of times and remind us that laughter is the best medicine.
This column was originally published in The Fort Bend Herald.