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This is my daughter Jocie. Her last writing assignment in 4th grade was to write a memoir. Not just a collection of thoughts or an essay about who she is, but to zero in about something specific she would want others to know about her.

If you were to write your memoir and could only write about one specific characteristic, trait or quality, what would it be?

Here is Jocie’s memoir.

Laughter

By Jocelyn Berry

Laughter is like a large wave in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. It crashes down, pushing you into the giant pool of excitement, happiness, and giggles. The pressure of laughter pushes you down, down, down into into the endless surroundings of happiness. The feeling is sensational. Before you know it, the pressure becomes too much. You shoot to the top, bubbling over, spitting out giggles.

Laughter is never stoppable. It is possible to hold in the noise type of laughter, but not the laughter on the inside. Laughter is a sign to an emotion everyone knows: Happiness. Laughter is like a dog waiting for the right time to dash for the hot dog. Inside you, the dog runs for the hot dog and grabs it. At the same time, you burst out laughing. I rarely go a day without laughing. Whether its funny book, a strange joke, the combination of pizza toppings they have at restaurants, or just a simple mistake I made, I’ll take the pleasure to laugh.

I know laughter is the key to having fun. I remember, one day in the backseat of the car, there was two sister time bombs. My sister told one joke, causing us to explode with laughter. Laughter helps to top off my day, like the cherry on top of a mountain of chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry ice cream, surrounded by two ripe bananas, chocolate syrup lava dripping down the sides. That makes it a wonderful day.

Laughter is like a fisherman luring you to take the bait, pulling you to the very different world of laughter. Laughter is a joyful cry bringing moisture to your eyes. Laughter is tossing away your fears away, seeping into your body. Thoughts of clear happy images fill your mind, until the laughter fades away.

Laughter is a tool impossible to lose, or throw away. You can spread, or give away laughter; still keeping it yourself. Laughter is your friend, there to brush away a tear, or to clear away upsetting thoughts. Laughter is like a towel for your mind, wiping away thoughts of anger, sadness, and loneliness.

To me, laughter is a shadow, waiting for sadness to fight. Laughter helps me get through tough days. Laughter is the key to having fun.

Oh how I enjoy watching this creative soul unfold.

Thursday, July 9th, 2009, 1:38 am   |   Authenticity, Family  |  RSS feed |  Respond  |  Trackback