Could Use Some Humor

"If you can't make it better, you can laugh at it."
- Erma Bombeck

Such wonderful, timeless advice from one of my all time favorite columnists, I really miss Erma. Surely if she were alive today she'd have some witty things to say about the sad state of affairs concerning our country.

At least, I hope she would have something sharp to say that would bring a smile to the masses. As it sure was hard to find anything humorous about the fall of Bear Stearns and the Fed's quick hand-out to assist them in their blunderings. How nice of us to help them out. Especially when Bear Stearns' chairman was too busy playing Bridge to be bothered with the fact 14,000 of his employees were in danger of losing their jobs and their stock value was evaporating right before their eyes.

I certainly could have used a good laugh when, after being told that recent polls show almost two-thirds of the American public say the Iraq war is not worth it, Vice President Cheney replied, "So?"

Gee, settle down there Cheney, wouldn't want you to get all hot and bothered over something as unimportant to you as the frustrated feelings of the masses. Maybe he had, "better things to do," then be bothered with polls.

At the very least the President, who usually offers up a few chuckles with his inability to string together a complete sentence, or pronounce even the simplest of words, didn't afford me so much as a grin. He was too busy lamenting that if he were a few years younger, he wouldn't mind being out there on the front lines, finding the whole notion, "romantic."

Wow, I should ask my husband, who served in the first Gulf war, if he thought coming home with missing limbs or in a flag draped box was romantic.

Our great leaders, both in Washington and behind-the-financial-scenes, weren't the only newsmakers adding insult to injury to the lives of the American public but I'm sure you've had more than your fair share of disturbing news as of late. I sure have but suffice it to say that trying to write a typical, "Mother of the Munchkins" column completely eluded me, trying to find something funny amidst the destruction of our economy and the sad state of affairs around the globe made anything beyond watching the news seem trivial.

Kids need fed, showers or tucked in to bed? Not right now, mommy is about to kick the TV screen in with her foot if she hears another word about gas prices, global warming, the stock market, war on terror, poverty, health care, and a plethora of other issues that are holding us hostage.

Honestly, if the neighbors could have ignored it, I'd have spent the week screaming at the TV rather than silently shaking my fist and pacing a well-worn path in front of it.

Erma, I really could have used some of your advice, inspiration and humor this week. I imagine the majority of the American public could have, too.

Bethany J. Royer-DeLong is currently entrenched at home fighting the good war against the gimmes and the I-don't-wannas. She blogs recklessly, as all mothers of children under the age of six should, and has been working on that "supposed" great American novel, times a dozen. You can visit her at motherofthemunchkins.blogspot.com and email her at broyerdelong@yahoo.com