[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
[Music]
[Music] this last June my wife and I celebrated
this last June my wife and I celebrated
this last June my wife and I celebrated our 26th wedding anniversary that’s okay
our 26th wedding anniversary that’s okay
our 26th wedding anniversary that’s okay you can applaud its if you knew me you
you can applaud its if you knew me you
you can applaud its if you knew me you knew it was a big deal when I tell
knew it was a big deal when I tell
knew it was a big deal when I tell people that they have two questions the
people that they have two questions the
people that they have two questions the first question is how did you meet and
first question is how did you meet and
first question is how did you meet and it’s hard for me to imagine that it’s
it’s hard for me to imagine that it’s
it’s hard for me to imagine that it’s been 26 years because it feels like just
been 26 years because it feels like just
been 26 years because it feels like just yesterday when our eyes locked across
yesterday when our eyes locked across
yesterday when our eyes locked across the room I knew immediately what I
the room I knew immediately what I
the room I knew immediately what I wanted so I walked right up to her but I
wanted so I walked right up to her but I
wanted so I walked right up to her but I couldn’t speak thankfully she broke the
couldn’t speak thankfully she broke the
couldn’t speak thankfully she broke the ice and said welcome to McDonald’s may I
ice and said welcome to McDonald’s may I
ice and said welcome to McDonald’s may I take your order it’s like a voice of an
take your order it’s like a voice of an
take your order it’s like a voice of an angel I couldn’t speak I just pointed
angel I couldn’t speak I just pointed
angel I couldn’t speak I just pointed out the board grunted she said number
out the board grunted she said number
out the board grunted she said number one Big Mac fries and a coke you want to
one Big Mac fries and a coke you want to
one Big Mac fries and a coke you want to supersize that it was like she knew me
supersize that it was like she knew me
supersize that it was like she knew me but when she said I’ll have that right
but when she said I’ll have that right
but when she said I’ll have that right out for you sir it was then that I knew
out for you sir it was then that I knew
out for you sir it was then that I knew that she knew it was her job to serve me
that she knew it was her job to serve me
that she knew it was her job to serve me I could never say that with a straight
I could never say that with a straight
I could never say that with a straight face especially when she’s in the room
face especially when she’s in the room
face especially when she’s in the room in 1972 Victor Borge said laughter is
in 1972 Victor Borge said laughter is
in 1972 Victor Borge said laughter is the shortest distance between two people
the shortest distance between two people
the shortest distance between two people so thank you for laughing 35 years later
so thank you for laughing 35 years later
so thank you for laughing 35 years later modern neuroscience and functional MRI
modern neuroscience and functional MRI
modern neuroscience and functional MRI scans are proving what Victor knew
scans are proving what Victor knew
scans are proving what Victor knew intuitively that laughter is more than
intuitively that laughter is more than
intuitively that laughter is more than amusement laughter his affiliation
amusement laughter his affiliation
amusement laughter his affiliation agreement and affection laughter is
agreement and affection laughter is
agreement and affection laughter is connection British neuroscientist Sophie
connection British neuroscientist Sophie
connection British neuroscientist Sophie Scott said that laughter is a positive
Scott said that laughter is a positive
Scott said that laughter is a positive social signal that I like you I agree
social signal that I like you I agree
social signal that I like you I agree with you and I’m in the same group with
with you and I’m in the same group with
with you and I’m in the same group with you laughter is connection so if there’s
you laughter is connection so if there’s
you laughter is connection so if there’s one thing to remember from our time
one thing to remember from our time
one thing to remember from our time together is that laughter is connection
together is that laughter is connection
together is that laughter is connection today I’m going to share with you how
today I’m going to share with you how
today I’m going to share with you how you can create a laughter rich
you can create a laughter rich
you can create a laughter rich environment so that you can connect
environment so that you can connect
environment so that you can connect through laughter the first ingredient is
through laughter the first ingredient is
through laughter the first ingredient is you need to laugh at yourself when you
you need to laugh at yourself when you
you need to laugh at yourself when you laugh at yourself you connect to your
laugh at yourself you connect to your
laugh at yourself you connect to your own humanity
own humanity
own humanity you’ve heard this saying laugh and the
you’ve heard this saying laugh and the
you’ve heard this saying laugh and the world laughs with you chew with your
world laughs with you chew with your
world laughs with you chew with your mouth open and you’ll eat alone
mouth open and you’ll eat alone
mouth open and you’ll eat alone yesterday I found myself at Whole Foods
yesterday I found myself at Whole Foods
yesterday I found myself at Whole Foods around lunchtime which was very
around lunchtime which was very
around lunchtime which was very convenient the door is open and I could
convenient the door is open and I could
convenient the door is open and I could immediately smell the hot food bar as if
immediately smell the hot food bar as if
immediately smell the hot food bar as if as like a sirens call beckoning me I
as like a sirens call beckoning me I
as like a sirens call beckoning me I find myself at the hot food bar and as I
find myself at the hot food bar and as I
find myself at the hot food bar and as I wake make my way up to the bar I see one
wake make my way up to the bar I see one
wake make my way up to the bar I see one sign in particular catches my attention
let me say that again vegan meatballs
let me say that again vegan meatballs I’m thinking am I being Punk’d I had to
I’m thinking am I being Punk’d I had to
I’m thinking am I being Punk’d I had to laugh because you may have guessed I
laugh because you may have guessed I
laugh because you may have guessed I have some food issues well I’ve got a
have some food issues well I’ve got a
have some food issues well I’ve got a lot of food issues but but I’m also very
lot of food issues but but I’m also very
lot of food issues but but I’m also very literal so I don’t know if I can eat
literal so I don’t know if I can eat
literal so I don’t know if I can eat vegan meatballs and I laughed even more
vegan meatballs and I laughed even more
vegan meatballs and I laughed even more because I got to thinking about myself
because I got to thinking about myself
because I got to thinking about myself as a vegan or vegetarian and if you are
as a vegan or vegetarian and if you are
as a vegan or vegetarian and if you are that’s great but I just know with my
that’s great but I just know with my
that’s great but I just know with my literal mentality I would not be able to
literal mentality I would not be able to
literal mentality I would not be able to eat meat but I would avoid meat in any
eat meat but I would avoid meat in any
eat meat but I would avoid meat in any form I wouldn’t be happy to meet you I
form I wouldn’t be happy to meet you I
form I wouldn’t be happy to meet you I wouldn’t meet you halfway
wouldn’t meet you halfway
wouldn’t meet you halfway I wouldn’t meet you for lunch I wouldn’t
I wouldn’t meet you for lunch I wouldn’t
I wouldn’t meet you for lunch I wouldn’t join meetup comm I wouldn’t go to meet
join meetup comm I wouldn’t go to meet
join meetup comm I wouldn’t go to meet and greet and you would never see me at
and greet and you would never see me at
and greet and you would never see me at a swap meet I would be so afraid of
a swap meet I would be so afraid of
a swap meet I would be so afraid of anything with a hint of animal I
anything with a hint of animal I
anything with a hint of animal I couldn’t give a piggyback ride
couldn’t give a piggyback ride
couldn’t give a piggyback ride couldn’t horse around bear hug out of
couldn’t horse around bear hug out of
couldn’t horse around bear hug out of the question and I would have to quit
the question and I would have to quit
the question and I would have to quit picking out that one would be hard for
picking out that one would be hard for
picking out that one would be hard for me to do I don’t think I could just quit
me to do I don’t think I could just quit
me to do I don’t think I could just quit cold-turkey
cold-turkey
cold-turkey and that is a lot of puns my friends the
and that is a lot of puns my friends the
and that is a lot of puns my friends the first ingredient of a laughter rich
first ingredient of a laughter rich
first ingredient of a laughter rich environment is to laugh at your own
environment is to laugh at your own
environment is to laugh at your own situation your own circumstances because
situation your own circumstances because
situation your own circumstances because when you laugh at yourself you connect
when you laugh at yourself you connect
when you laugh at yourself you connect to your own humanity the second
to your own humanity the second
to your own humanity the second ingredient is to laugh with others you
ingredient is to laugh with others you
ingredient is to laugh with others you are 30 times more likely to laugh when
are 30 times more likely to laugh when
are 30 times more likely to laugh when you’re in a group of people plus you’re
you’re in a group of people plus you’re
you’re in a group of people plus you’re going to try to make eye contact with
going to try to make eye contact with
going to try to make eye contact with the person whose connection you value
the person whose connection you value
the person whose connection you value most Martha Beck author said that
most Martha Beck author said that
most Martha Beck author said that laughter is social glue that binds
laughter is social glue that binds
laughter is social glue that binds people together and fills the small gaps
people together and fills the small gaps
people together and fills the small gaps that inevitably remain that’s connection
that inevitably remain that’s connection
that inevitably remain that’s connection who do you spend the most time with who
who do you spend the most time with who
who do you spend the most time with who do you love to laugh with I mentioned
do you love to laugh with I mentioned
do you love to laugh with I mentioned earlier that people have two questions
earlier that people have two questions
earlier that people have two questions about being married 26 years the second
about being married 26 years the second
about being married 26 years the second question is what’s the secret to a happy
question is what’s the secret to a happy
question is what’s the secret to a happy marriage now I look them straight in the
marriage now I look them straight in the
marriage now I look them straight in the eye and say I have no idea
eye and say I have no idea
eye and say I have no idea all right just check and see if y’all
all right just check and see if y’all
all right just check and see if y’all are with me on the laughter
are with me on the laughter
are with me on the laughter I have no idea that’s just a joke but
I have no idea that’s just a joke but
I have no idea that’s just a joke but here’s the real answer don’t fight we
here’s the real answer don’t fight we
here’s the real answer don’t fight we are one of those couples that never
are one of those couples that never
are one of those couples that never fight ever about anything well yeah
fight ever about anything well yeah
fight ever about anything well yeah there’s one thing and that’s the fact
there’s one thing and that’s the fact
there’s one thing and that’s the fact that she wants to go places and see
that she wants to go places and see
that she wants to go places and see things and I want to see things too I
things and I want to see things too I
things and I want to see things too I just don’t want to have to leave home to
just don’t want to have to leave home to
just don’t want to have to leave home to do it I’ve got the internet and I’ve got
do it I’ve got the internet and I’ve got
do it I’ve got the internet and I’ve got cable I’ve got the couch you can google
cable I’ve got the couch you can google
cable I’ve got the couch you can google anything right for example last
anything right for example last
anything right for example last Christmas she said I want to go see the
Christmas she said I want to go see the
Christmas she said I want to go see the giant Christmas tree and anthem honey
giant Christmas tree and anthem honey
giant Christmas tree and anthem honey how do you know there’s a giant
how do you know there’s a giant
how do you know there’s a giant Christmas tree an anthem I saw it in the
Christmas tree an anthem I saw it in the
Christmas tree an anthem I saw it in the paper
paper
paper okay so you’ve seen it now here’s the
okay so you’ve seen it now here’s the
okay so you’ve seen it now here’s the real secret to 26 year marriage next
real secret to 26 year marriage next
real secret to 26 year marriage next thing I know like that we’re up in
thing I know like that we’re up in
thing I know like that we’re up in Anthem looking at the giant Christmas
Anthem looking at the giant Christmas
Anthem looking at the giant Christmas tree and it’s nice and I found myself
tree and it’s nice and I found myself
tree and it’s nice and I found myself getting a little nostalgic thinking way
getting a little nostalgic thinking way
getting a little nostalgic thinking way back to before in the paper you look
back to before in the paper you look
back to before in the paper you look just like it
just like it
just like it when we moved to Phoenix she said I want
when we moved to Phoenix she said I want
when we moved to Phoenix she said I want to go see the view from South Mountain
to go see the view from South Mountain
to go see the view from South Mountain so I pulled it up on Google I said there
so I pulled it up on Google I said there
so I pulled it up on Google I said there you go honey hiker girl 33 it’s already
you go honey hiker girl 33 it’s already
you go honey hiker girl 33 it’s already done the work that’s not what I want I
done the work that’s not what I want I
done the work that’s not what I want I don’t want a picture I want to see it
don’t want a picture I want to see it
don’t want a picture I want to see it for myself
for myself
for myself so she drugged me up South Mountain now
so she drugged me up South Mountain now
so she drugged me up South Mountain now I wasn’t drugged but I wish I’d been
I wasn’t drugged but I wish I’d been
I wasn’t drugged but I wish I’d been drugged and let’s face it it’s not
drugged and let’s face it it’s not
drugged and let’s face it it’s not hiking it’s climbing and it’s hot and I
hiking it’s climbing and it’s hot and I
hiking it’s climbing and it’s hot and I am sweaty and thirsty and tired and
am sweaty and thirsty and tired and
am sweaty and thirsty and tired and angry and a bit of a whiny pants that’s
angry and a bit of a whiny pants that’s
angry and a bit of a whiny pants that’s right I said it
right I said it
right I said it that’s why we don’t have kids because I
that’s why we don’t have kids because I
that’s why we don’t have kids because I am one but we get to the top and the
am one but we get to the top and the
am one but we get to the top and the first thing she does when we get to the
first thing she does when we get to the
first thing she does when we get to the top any guesses she took a picture you
top any guesses she took a picture you
top any guesses she took a picture you want to see it honey oh yeah look at
want to see it honey oh yeah look at
want to see it honey oh yeah look at that it looks like before at home when I
that it looks like before at home when I
that it looks like before at home when I wasn’t hot and sweaty and thirsty and
wasn’t hot and sweaty and thirsty and
wasn’t hot and sweaty and thirsty and tired and angry in Hawaii pants and she
tired and angry in Hawaii pants and she
tired and angry in Hawaii pants and she said you have to admit it’s not the same
said you have to admit it’s not the same
said you have to admit it’s not the same it is to me and now she’s upset and
it is to me and now she’s upset and
it is to me and now she’s upset and rightfully so because I’ve ruined her
rightfully so because I’ve ruined her
rightfully so because I’ve ruined her trip to South Mountain on the way home
trip to South Mountain on the way home
trip to South Mountain on the way home we’re driving you want to go get some
we’re driving you want to go get some
we’re driving you want to go get some ice cream no answer you want to go get
ice cream no answer you want to go get
ice cream no answer you want to go get some ice cream no answer now as my head
some ice cream no answer now as my head
some ice cream no answer now as my head turns for the third time she thrusts her
turns for the third time she thrusts her
turns for the third time she thrusts her phone into my face there’s your ice
phone into my face there’s your ice
phone into my face there’s your ice cream tubby
it’s a picture of a banana split and it
it’s a picture of a banana split and it was then that I realized she’s right
was then that I realized she’s right
was then that I realized she’s right some things you need to really
some things you need to really
some things you need to really experience a picture is not worth those
experience a picture is not worth those
experience a picture is not worth those thousand words
thousand words
thousand words the other thing you need to experience
the other thing you need to experience
the other thing you need to experience is shared laughter because when you
is shared laughter because when you
is shared laughter because when you create that moment you create an
create that moment you create an
create that moment you create an opportunity to in an instant transport
opportunity to in an instant transport
opportunity to in an instant transport yourself back to that moment and regain
yourself back to that moment and regain
yourself back to that moment and regain those benefits but also to regain that
those benefits but also to regain that
those benefits but also to regain that connection the first ingredient is laugh
connection the first ingredient is laugh
connection the first ingredient is laugh at yourself the second is to laugh with
at yourself the second is to laugh with
at yourself the second is to laugh with others and the third is make others
others and the third is make others
others and the third is make others laugh
laugh
laugh Lauren Martin said that those who make
Lauren Martin said that those who make
Lauren Martin said that those who make us laugh are more than just our friends
us laugh are more than just our friends
us laugh are more than just our friends they may just be our saviors back in
they may just be our saviors back in
they may just be our saviors back in 2000 my mother was passing away with
2000 my mother was passing away with
2000 my mother was passing away with cancer it made for a long difficult time
cancer it made for a long difficult time
cancer it made for a long difficult time for both of us but I wanted to honor
for both of us but I wanted to honor
for both of us but I wanted to honor what she wanted as far as her
what she wanted as far as her
what she wanted as far as her arrangements I wanted I said mom tell me
arrangements I wanted I said mom tell me
arrangements I wanted I said mom tell me what you want I want to do what you want
what you want I want to do what you want
what you want I want to do what you want done but she wouldn’t have that
done but she wouldn’t have that
done but she wouldn’t have that conversation with me she avoided it at
conversation with me she avoided it at
conversation with me she avoided it at every turn
every turn
every turn finally I slipped into her bedroom sat
finally I slipped into her bedroom sat
finally I slipped into her bedroom sat on the edge of her bed and with the TV
on the edge of her bed and with the TV
on the edge of her bed and with the TV glow illuminating our conversation I
glow illuminating our conversation I
glow illuminating our conversation I said I want to do this will you tell me
said I want to do this will you tell me
said I want to do this will you tell me she wouldn’t answer and I said finally
she wouldn’t answer and I said finally
she wouldn’t answer and I said finally you know me if you don’t tell me what
you know me if you don’t tell me what
you know me if you don’t tell me what you want I will have you stuffed and put
you want I will have you stuffed and put
you want I will have you stuffed and put in a rocking chair and as we’ve grown
in a rocking chair and as we’ve grown
in a rocking chair and as we’ve grown accustomed to by now her response was
accustomed to by now her response was
accustomed to by now her response was Ricky
Ricky
Ricky that was her typical response to my
that was her typical response to my
that was her typical response to my inappropriate comments but we shared a
inappropriate comments but we shared a
inappropriate comments but we shared a laugh in a very difficult time and I got
laugh in a very difficult time and I got
laugh in a very difficult time and I got to help her
to help her
to help her connect to her own humanity we connected
connect to her own humanity we connected
connect to her own humanity we connected together in it to this day it’s one of
together in it to this day it’s one of
together in it to this day it’s one of my fondest memories of that difficult
my fondest memories of that difficult
my fondest memories of that difficult time the three ingredients till after
time the three ingredients till after
time the three ingredients till after rich environment laugh at yourself you
rich environment laugh at yourself you
rich environment laugh at yourself you connect to your own humanity laugh with
connect to your own humanity laugh with
connect to your own humanity laugh with others because it’s social glue it binds
others because it’s social glue it binds
others because it’s social glue it binds us together make others laugh because
us together make others laugh because
us together make others laugh because you just may be their Savior but
you just may be their Savior but
you just may be their Savior but everything I’ve shared up till now
everything I’ve shared up till now
everything I’ve shared up till now doesn’t really matter as much as this
doesn’t really matter as much as this
doesn’t really matter as much as this point as you leave here today who do you
point as you leave here today who do you
point as you leave here today who do you need to laugh with what situation in
need to laugh with what situation in
need to laugh with what situation in your life do you need to laugh about and
your life do you need to laugh about and
your life do you need to laugh about and who do you need to make laugh because if
who do you need to make laugh because if
who do you need to make laugh because if you want to connect you need to laugh
you want to connect you need to laugh
you want to connect you need to laugh but if you really want to connect share
but if you really want to connect share
but if you really want to connect share a banana split
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
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