ASSOCIATION humor connection FOR APPLIED AND THERAPEUTIC HUMOR the

ASSOCIATION humor connection FOR APPLIED AND THERAPEUTIC HUMOR the SPRING 2004 By Patty Wooten, R.N., B.S.N. and Ed Dunkelblau, Ph.D., Conference Co-Chairs OUR MISSION 2 3 4 6 8 9 10 San Francisco ow, we had a fabulous time in San Francisco: the clang of the cable car bell just outside our hotel door, views of Coit Tower and Alcatraz from the top floors, and a wonderful gathering of humor enthusiasts from around the world. Conference Bridging Differences To ADVANCE the understanding and application of humor, laughter and play. The Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor (AATH) is a leader in providing state-of-the-art, evidence-based information about current research and practical applications of humor to education, healthcare, business, and government. AATH is a membership-based, volunteer-run, international association. W This year we added several new services—all were a great success. About 75 people attended the Beach Blanket Babylon show on Friday night, and we roared with laughter. For the first time, AATH sponsored a bookstore featuring more than 100 books and recordings related to therapeutic humor. The entire conference was also audiotaped—so if you missed a session or a day, you can still capture all the wisdom on an audiotape or CD. Be sure to check your Member Memo and the AATH website for a clickable link to each of these resources online. The pre-conference sessions drew enthusiastic audiences interested in both Humor in the Hospital and in Psychotherapy. There were plenty of opportunities for networking and sharing ideas. Saturday morning featured our distinguished scholar, Willi Ruch from University of Zurich in Switzerland. Dr. Ruch reported on his own research on humor/enjoyment and pain tolerance. He used the research of his colleague Paul Ekman (who defined the specific muscles involved in smiling from enjoyment) together with his own trait/state cheerfulness ratings to create a study that proves that laughter from true enjoyment is more Sunday morning was perhaps the funniest day in AATH history. The combination of Wes Nisker with his “Crazy Wisdom” followed by René Hicks with her “Spirit of Laughter” had us howling with laughter until we cried. effective at reducing pain than laughter that is “faked” because it is expected to be polite. Lunch with a Humor Hero was a great success. Dr. Bill Fry, Willi Ruch, Kathy Passanisi and Patty Wooten all had lively continued on page 3 INSIDE? The Prez Sez | Shirley K. Trout, M.Ed. From the Editor | Jacki Kwan What’s so Funny About Cancer?TM | Saranne Rothberg Getting to Know Dale Anderson & Annie Glasgow | Danny Donuts Humor. A Doctor’s Sharpest Instrument | Mark Hertzberg, M.D. Fun-tastic | Joyce M. Saltman, Ph.D. 2004 Conference Update Funny Lessons for Unfunny Times | Sara Sellars Book Review | By Art Gliner Member News What’s 11 14 15 Prez Sez By Shirley K. Trout, M.Ed. The the house down Sunday morning, challenging us to become the “footsoldiers” in the Army of Humor, Laughter and Play. One participant suggested we declare René our official “poster child” and promote future other association events with the tag line, “Hook ‘em with Hicks!” We just might do that. At the conference, we witnessed the debut of our association conference display. (Contact the office if you would like to have it standing at another conference you attend.) The sales of membership pins and photographs from past conferences supported the AATH Library Project fund. On-site vendors sold a host of inventive, fun, and funny items, ranging from books to magic props. And the bookstore—a great addition—sold out of many of its titles early in the weekend. Beach Blanket Babylon was entertaining beyond description. If you weren’t able to attend, be sure to purchase the audiotapes and a proceedings book to stay current with the content. As we now work to come down off this recent “high,” we are now served by a slightly different board that will play a significantly different role in our transformation into a world leader in enhancing the understanding and application of humor, laughter, and play. I can’t explain the details here, but be prepared to see even more great things coming from your association in the very near future. With Patty and Ed now preparing to enjoy the 2005 conference from inside the sessions, we welcome Nancy Street and Carol O’Flaherty to the helm. We’ll announce the details of next year’s Florida-based event just as soon as we figure them out. But by all means, be ready to join your fellow footsoldiers for next year’s great event. Thanks, all volunteers, staff, speakers and attendees, for making this such a phenomenal event! The illustrious new display. I sez, “WOW!” Anyone who was fortunate—and wise— enough to attend the recent conference in San Francisco knows exactly what I’m talking about. Those of you who couldn’t make it…there’s always next year! It was a barn-burner, from the two pre-conference sessions through the wrap-up with Dr. Terry Paulson. Patty Wooten and Ed Dunkelblau, in their swan song event, put together a line-up that defies description. They delivered on their promise to go out on top, and they sure put on a show against which all future events will be measured. Thanks, Patty and Ed, for your amazing years of amazing service to this association. We know you’re not leaving and hope you’ll become “proud parents” of the conferences-to-come! We’ll be hearing a couple catch-phrases as a result of this year’s conference. We’ll be forever watching for “6-12s.” These muscles, used in the “cheerfulness” smile, relate to significant increase in pain tolerance. Thanks, Dr. Willi Ruch, for that great presentation! Kathy Passanisi, now known as “The Billy Crystal of AATH,” put on the most amazing Awards Banquet, as we thanked Ed and Patty and congratulated Karyn Buxman, this year’s recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award. The presenters—and their highquality materials—added a richness that exactly represents a world-class educational event. They brought to the table the wide range of perspectives representative of our diverse purpose. While I can’t thank each one individually—I must mention one in particular: René Hicks, who literally brought ASSOCIATION FOR APPLIED AND THERAPEUTIC HUMOR 1951 W. Camelback Rd. #445 Phoenix, AZ 85015 Phone: 602.995.1454 Fax: 602.995.1449 Email: office@aath.org www.aath.org President, Shirley Trout: strout@teachablemoments.com Newsletter Editor Jacki Kwan jacki@hahalogy.com 301.907.4610 OFFICERS Shirley Trout, President Allen Klein, President-elect Pam Palis-Kalicz, Secretary Saranne Rothberg, Treasurer Ann Weeks, Past-president BOARD Don Baird, At-large Ron Berk, At-large Lenny Dave, At-large Leslie Gibson, At-large Roz Trieber, At-large Steve Wilson, At-large April Beccera, Executive Secretary 2 the humor connection | Spring 2004 | www.aath.org SAN FRANCISCO continued from page 1 By Jacki Kwan discussions with their lunchtime buddies. Saturday afternoon was filled with twelve different speakers and a wide variety of topics. By the end of the day, folks were filled with energy and ideas. The networking room allowed special interest groups to develop ideas and plans for collaboration. This resulted in two new email discussion groups: clowns@aath.org and research@aath.org If you wish to join either of these two groups, please send a note to webspinner@aath.org and your name will be added to email list. The Saturday night banquet was better than ever before. Our illustrious emcee and past president, Kathy Passanisi kept the evening lively and funny. She performed a hilarious “roast” of Karyn Buxman, our Lifetime Award recipient and also honored Ed Dunkelblau and Patty Wooten as they step down from more than 10 years of conference planning for AATH. Sunday morning was perhaps the funniest day in AATH history. The combination of Wes Nisker with his “Crazy Wisdom” followed by René Hicks with her “Spirit of Laughter” had us howling with laughter until we cried. How many of us will ever forget “pork water?” René was recovering from bronchitis and pneumonia and literally dragged herself to the platform for her performance. It was miraculous to watch René come alive as her humor delighted the audience and inspired her creativity. Watching that evolution was, once again for me, proof that humor has powerful therapeutic benefits. TheEditor pring is upon us! The sun is shining…at least today in my area…and that alone is reason enough to smile. I’m also smiling because I’m still basking in the glow from our annual conference in San Francisco. from Welcome! Unfunny Times.” She was attracted to AATH because we have an organization that is dedicated to offering creative solutions to life’s problems. This is why we do what we do! And last, but not least, I’d love to acknowledge the wonderful, fantastic, fantabulous work of my dear daughter, Jen. [Hi, folks! It was great to meet everyone! — Jen] You may have met her at the conference. [That’s what I meant!] Either way, she has worked as a content editor on the newsletter, and I must say, she’s done a great job. [Why, thanks! How about another sentence about how great I am?] I can’t say enough about how great she is. Did I mention that she happens to be editing this letter? [I have the power! Mwahahaha!] And that if she doesn’t behave, this may be her last? [OK, I get the picture. I’m done now. Toodles!] So all nepotism aside, please enjoy this issue, and let’s keep going strong in our newsletter mission. I implore you to add to the diversity of voices by contributing articles for publication (750 words in length, Microsoft Word format, emailed as an attachment to me: jacki@hahalogy.com). Also, you have an amazing opportunity to tell the world what you do by purchasing an ad. Deadline for editorial and ad copy for the summer issue is June 5. Please email me or the office for ad specs and the contract. Complete publication guidelines are available on our website: www.aath.org. So now, KICK BACK and S You’ll find in this issue no shortage of kudos to and from this year’s conference organizers and participants. I hope we’re all feeling energized and ready to boldly forge ahead into this new AATH year. We’re asking that all of you help us grow by inviting others to join! So in the spirit of wonderfulness, you’ll find another issue of our pride and joy: The Humor Connection. I’d like to take the chance to praise the team effort that went into putting it together this time around. If you were in San Francisco, I hope you got a chance to thank Lawrence and Heather from Innova—the design group that provided those lovely back massagers at the banquet—for our new look. Laurie Orloff is my new Communications Committee co-chair, and Sara Sellars has joined our editorial board. Sara tells her story in her article, “Funny Lessons for the San Francisco conference, you can still order the tapes and the syllabus (check the website at: www.AATH.org) Nothing is better than the real thing, so please join us next year in Florida for the 2005 AATH conference! If you missed enjoy this issue! Mirthfully Yours, Jacki Kwan, Editor www.aath.org | Spring 2004 | the humor connection 3 By Saranne Rothberg About Cancer? fractured my funny bone in February of 1999. I heard “malignant tumor, surgery, radiation, chemo” and felt as if I’d forgotten how to breathe. The medical staff continued to banter about the prognosis of my exposed breasts and suddenly my mind rebelled. An old magazine article about a man who had “laughed himself well” hijacked my thoughts. What’s so Funny TM I Okay, I admit it may have been slightly hysterical to yank off my hospital gown and run to the local video store in search of comedy tapes, but the diagnosing doctor had just informed me that it was “too late on Friday” to assemble the hospital cancer squad. At that moment, the weekend seemed like an emotional Grand Canyon of fear, anxiety, and depression. If laughing helped Norman Cousins beat his rare nerve disease two decades ago, then why couldn’t I bemuse my cancer for 60 hours? What did I have to lose? Armed with stacks of stand-up comedy performances and feature films, I returned home still reeling from the logistics of fighting cancer. I wooed my five-year-old daughter to her bed earlier than usual. I barely held back an eroding dam of tears as we said prayers. Torturous questions bombarded my mind, “How many more bedtime stories will I read to her?”… “Will I be strong enough to bathe her after chemo starts?” Sobbing, I ran to the television in another room and fumbled to insert the first videotape. Could the “comedy cavalry” rescue me the way it had Norman Cousins? I sat in front of the monitor praying for a miracle. A young Eddie Murphy appeared on the screen. He set up his first joke, delivered the punch line, and the audience’s laughter filled my room. I demanded that my mind listen to Eddie—even though it was more interested in my self-chatter about my own mortality. Another Murphy joke. I laughed and blew my nose. Another joke. I laughed and cried. Another joke. More laughter rang from deep inside. I could still laugh! The cancer was ravaging my healthy breast tissue, but it hadn’t robbed me of my ability to laugh. I switched to the Jackie Mason video. I remembered seeing him live on Broadway. With each laugh came a deeper breath. With each deeper breath came relaxation. With each (Above) Saranne with a participant at National Cancer Survivor Day 2003. (Top Right) Cancer Survivor Saranne Rothberg with her daughter Lauriel. Joyful Habits ✔ ✔ ✔ 4 Find a “Humor Buddy” Make a daily “Appointment to Laugh” Call the ComedyCures LaughLine 1-888-Ha-Ha-Ha-Ha! ✔ ✔ ✔ Start a “Funny Moments” scrapbook Have a head shaving party Smile at yourself every day the humor connection | Spring 2004 | www.aath.org relaxation came a sense of calm. I was now laughing multiple times per minute, and life seemed normal. As the east coast went to sleep, Robin Williams’s relentless antics caused me to laugh without pause. His comedic momentum jiggled all those stomach knots caused by the cancer diagnosis. Next, my cancerous left breast and I laughed through Jerry’s “Lost Socks As the sun shone onto my TV monitor, my well-rested daughter, Lauriel, reminded me of my Saturday morning parenting duties. Inspired by last night’s “Best of Bill Cosby” video, I served chocolate doughnuts for breakfast! And just as he had defended himself to Camille (his wife), I confirmed, “Eggs, wheat, milk, flour, butter!” Lauriel and I danced around and sang with him, “[Mom] is great! [She] gives [me] chocolate [doughnuts]!” laughter, and light into the most sour, darkest night of my life. It’s been almost five years, three surgeries, 44 radiation treatments, and too many chemo cocktails since my all-night comedy marathon. At least twice a day, I surround myself with comedy, as a tribute to Norman Cousins and all the comics who have given me my life’s mission at The ComedyCures Foundation. From its grassroots launch during my first chemo treatment, it became clear that I was in that “hot seat” to bring joy and humor to others through this non-profit service. And the “punch line” is…my funny bone healed. I am considered cancer-free. Saranne Rothberg is the Executive Director of The ComedyCures Foundation. Her award-winning therapeutic comedy programs entertain and inspire America. www.comedycures.org, info@ comedycures.org, 201-227-8410. “But ‘stressed’ is just ‘desserts,’ if you look at it backwards.” in the Dryer” monologue. Throwing my head forward in laughter again, I slapped my knees in agreement; “I lose half a pair every time I do laundry too!” And then it hit me: I am not alone. Millions of people are on this cancer journey with me. “Sock!” “Breast!” “Loss!” We’re supposed to connect. Like everyone else diagnosed with a life-threatening illness, I was stressed. But “stressed” is just “desserts,” if you look at it backwards. Norman Cousins and the myriad of comics taught me a crash course in comic perspective, turning stress and disease (dis-ease) on its head. Their honesty instilled in me a sense of hope and the ability to invite humor, www.aath.org | Winter 2004 | the humor connection Spring 5 5 By Danny Donuts Getting to Know… [ It’s the Members that Matter ] “Dale Anderso t’s five dark-o’clock Monday morning. The city of San Francisco is just starting to wake up. When Dale Anderson and Annie Glasgow bounce out of the Crowne Plaza, though, it feels like sunrise over the bay. “Hey Annie! Here’s Danny with the vanny, so move your fanny!” Dale and Annie’s playful exuberance at this early hour is nothing short of inspirational. What’s their secret? Caffeine buzz? High on life? “We’re high on people,” Annie explains. “That’s the energy we feel from being around interesting and interested people.” I have the privilege of transporting the Wellderly Dynamic Duo to the airport in the Laughing Limo. After just a few minutes of entertaining conversation, I’m ready to strap on the tire chains and drive them all the way back to Roseville, Minnesota. They leave me longing for a chance to sit out on their front porch, sip lemonade and listen to their stories all day. Dale and Annie presented “It’s Not The Same ‘Old’ Act Anymore!” to an enthusiastic audience. But that’s not the only reason both of them grin from ear to ear. This AATH conference marks the six-year anniversary of their first meeting. Not only do they talk about how laughter and humor connects us, they’re living proof. At the 1998 conference in Georgetown, Annie, a psychotherapist from North Carolina, and Dale, a doctor from Minnesota, established this humor connection. Though the details are sketchy—”My forgettery is really efficient,” admits Annie— this first encounter began something truly special. In 2000, Annie exchanged the mild Carolina winters for lots of laughs in chilly Minnesota. She’s no longer a practicing therapist (“I must have gotten it right. I don’t need to practice anymore!”), though Dale will be the first to tell you she’s Dale and Annie watch very little television, and they love fun movies and musicals. “We’re both wordsmiths. We love words and puns, and we read each other jokes at night. I “We look for humor and fun. We ask ourselves, ‘Why get upset? What is the worldwide consequence of this, really?’ ” still a psychotherapist: “She has her own personal psycho to use her therapy on.” The self-described “poster children for the wellderly” are both public speakers and authors committed to spreading the messages of Acting Happy (fake it ’til you make it) and living a life ever laughing. So what are the secrets to their upbeat, positive lives? “We’re more UP than most people. We look for humor and fun. We ask ourselves, ‘Why get upset? What is the worldwide consequence of this, really?’ “ We find novels and books that are upbeat.” They also try to avoid politics, which they find disarming— smart move in a state governed by a former professional wrestler. While this happy couple works well as a unit, they each have their individual interests. Annie freely expresses her wild side with the Red Hat Society, a group pursuing “fun after fifty (and before) for women of all walks of life.” In fact, she jumped out of a cake at the “dis-organization’s” national meeting in Nashville. 6 the humor connection | Spring 2004 | www.aath.org on” & “Annie Glasgow” In addition to being a sought-after speaker and author, sharing “wellderly wisdom” in her book, Gift to the Present, Annie also clowns around in hospitals, senior centers, and for special needs children as “Cozy Q. Clown.” Dr. Dale’s passion, meanwhile, is applying method acting to daily life; he claims it’s the holistic medicine of the 21st century. Dale continues to practice medicine and continually uses his humor with his patients (“What’s a bad joint like this doing in a nice girl like you?”). When asked about his future plans, Dale responds, “The only way to go is up!” Fascinated by the science of fun, he would love medical research to explore the impact of method acting on body chemistry. Eventually, he hopes to hand the standing ovations over to an understudy who will take his concept and run with it. The subtitle for Dale’s latest book, Never Act Your Age is “Play the Happy Childlike Role Well at Every Age.” Dale Anderson and Annie Glasgow perfectly cast themselves as the leading man and leading lady. They bring joy, laughter and inspiration to audiences around the world. Feeling energized? That’s just one side effect of getting to know this wellderly couple. So get up off that couch, follow the doctor’s orders, and Act Happy! What are you waiting for? As Annie reminds us, “There’s no time like the pleasant!” Visit ’em on the web. Dr. Dale Anderson’s web page is www.ActHappy.com and Annie Glasgow’s web page is www.BeWellderly.com. www.aath.org | Spring 2004 | the humor connection 7 By Mark Hertzberg, M.D. Sharpest Instrument omedic ability should be required for every job involving personal interaction, especially in medicine. At the core, good doctoring and good comedy rely on the same skills! Associative intellect, the kind used to create a snappy reply in an instant, is important for dealing with medical diagnoses in the real world. A truly special doctor will be able to creatively associate the possibilities when a patient presents a twist on anything covered in the books. In the realm of comedy, the ability to identify such innovative connections is called “cleverness.” We always talk about a sense of humor, but nobody questions what this means. Typically, you sense something by seeing, hearing, touching, smelling or tasting. You may judge something to be funny more than you really sense the funny in it. Someone who laughs at everything does not have a great sense of humor anymore than someone who sees mirages and hears voices has great vision and hearing. Somebody with profound knowledge must have coined the phrase sense of humor. The sense part is the ability to intuit what will make another person laugh—a very deep interpersonal skill. Naturally, it’s easy to guess that a gun or a rabid wolf might scare someone or that a winning lottery ticket might bring some joy (or even depress a certain type of person). On the other hand, figuring out what will make anyone laugh is more complicated. We possess an ability to sense something of the inner workings of people. The goal of using this ability does not necessarily have to be laughter. “Lucy, you got some ‘splainin to do.” At times your doctor faces a quandary: He or she must convince you to be serious about keeping an appointment or a referral or the taking of a pill without scaring you (too much). Frightened patients often figure their situation is pointless, or they panic or even go into denial. It’s hard for physicians to know just how to reduce things, to what degree... As a static-filled receiver, a frightened patient requires a super message. This must be an interaction, even though the patient may say nothing. Doctors need to hone a special sense to understand how much each “receiver” understands: • What words should be modified or emphasized? • What should the doc repeat, and how much repetition insults this patient’s intelligence? • What information must the patient hear, and how much can he or she handle? • How do the patient’s expectations or ulterior motives affect his or her comprehension? • Where’s the fine line between convincing a patient to be serious and committed, and scaring him or her into panic, denial or anger? Sound familiar? These questions are very similar to the issues inherent in developing a true sense of humor. By its nature, humor is the most flexible medium in communicating as Humor. A Doctor’s C Mark Hertzberg much information as each receiver can handle however, the sense must be highly attuned. Used incorrectly, the presence of humor will be considered offensive. Remember, humor is a tool. Knifing a patient would be offensive, too, but that doesn’t mean a scalpel has no use in medicine; it requires surgical precision, so it doesn’t appear to be a dagger. A doctor who makes a patient chuckle has connected in the most important way, treating the patient as a person, rather than a medical case. In comedy, it is better to be liked by a crowd than to overwhelm them with talent. In medicine, the doctor who earns the patient’s faith is a more successful healer than the doctor with the most knowledge. So you see: Doctors and comedians, in fact, have much in common. Perhaps it’s no coincidence that both are renowned for not being able to read their own notes… Mark Hertzberg was a standup comic before he became an optometrist. He has performed in over 200 hospital shows, gives seminars in applying comedy and improv to everyday situations and is the author of The Most Unhealthy Relationship of All: A Guide to Better Doctor-Patient Communication. 8 the humor connection | Spring 2004 | www.aath.org By Joyce M. Saltman, Ph.D. Fun-tastic APPLICATIONS FOR AATH DIRECTIONS: • Write a category on each sheet of construction paper, and post one in each corner of the room. Categories may include funny objects (egg cartons, toilet paper rolls, old girl/boy scout uniforms, paper plates, high school gym suit, etc.) or events (first snowball fight of the year, school detention, etc.). • Divide group into 4 teams by season of birth (summer, spring, etc.), favorite holiday, or by counting off from 1 to 4 in the general group. Each team goes to one of the designated corners. • Give teams 15 minutes to brainstorm best uses of the item on the sign, favorite characteristics of the topic on the sign or whatever. • Have each team present their results through a song, cheer, or skit, rather than reading the list aloud to the group. FOUR CORNER ACTIVITY INGREDIENTS: • 4 pieces of construction paper • magic markers • 1 piece of paper and pen or pencil for each of 4 teams Prizes may be awarded for the most outrageous, most difficult to reproduce, most creative, most humorous, etc. HA FUN! VE Laughter IS the best medicine...and building a “HUMOR LIBRARY” is a simple, fun and cost-effective way to ensure the laughter year round. To make humor resources more readily available to help you build a humor library in YOUR facility, The Carolina Health and Humor Association, a non-profit organization, is proud to provide you with a NEW, FREE, and entertaining humor web site: Here, you’ll find the largest selection of comedy resources available, including: Movie comedies Stand up/TV comedians videos and DVDs Humor books Old time radio shows Comedy tapes/CDs Comedy novelties Health and humor articles Medical research about the health and humor connection Health and humor programs around the country Ways to set up a Laugh Mobile...a rolling humor library No joke! There’s no better place for staff and patients in hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and nursing homes, or residents of senior centers, retirement communities and other service-based organizations to find great humor resources and ways to increase the humor quotient in their lives. So jest for fun, add a few laughs and start building your humor library today! www.aath.org | Spring 2004 | the humor connection 9 Shenanig CONFERENCE SPONSORS: CONFERENCE EXHIBITORS Bruce Baum 1300 Elmwood Ave Buffalo, NY 14222-1095 Phone: (716) 878-4639 Fax: (716) 878-5410 Email: humorconnection@msn.com The ComedyCures Foundation Suite 205 500 Route 17 South Hasbrouck Heights, NJ 07604 Email: info@comedycures.org Laughline: 1-888-HA-HA-HA-HA (1-888-424-2424) Donations: 1-888-424-2424, ext. 0 or Toll-free voicemail: 1-888-424-2424, ext. 1 Phone: 1-201-227-8410 Fax: 1-201-227-8411 Deb Gauldin, R.N., P.M.S. ON251 Robbins Winfield, IL 60190 Phone: (630) 682-1095 Fax: (630) 682-8937 Email: deb@debgauldin.com Annette Goodheart, Ph.D. 635 N Alisos St Santa Barbara, CA 93103 Phone: (805) 966-0025 Fax: (805) 966-6146 Klein Time Entertainment Sue Kleinwachter PO Box 700 Warrenville, IL 60555 Phone: (630) 393-7714 Fax: (630) 393-3329 Email: FunE98@aol.com Web Site: kleintime.com Conference Recording Service Richard Page, M.P.A. 1308 Gilman Street Berkeley, CA 94706 Phone: (510) 527-3600 Fax: (510) 527-8404 Clown Supplies Marie Persson 16 Moore St Epping, NH 03042 Phone: (603) 679-3311 Email: mep@clownsupplies.com Lois Richter PO Box 7 Davis, CA 95617-0007 Phone: (530) 758-5058 Fax: (530) 758-7231 Email: lois@gotouring.com Medically Speaking Sally Warner 10573 W Pico Blvd #236 Los Angeles, CA 90064-2348 Phone: (310) 291-3002 Fax: (310) 205-0520 Email: sally@4medspeak.com Web Site: www.4medspeak.com Steve Wilson and Company Steve Wilson, M.A., C.S.P. 1159 S Creekway Ct Gahanna, OH 43230-1977 Phone: (614) 855-4733 Fax: (614) 855-4889 Email: steve@stevewilson.com Jest for the Health of It Patty Wooten, R.N., B.S.N. PO Box 8484 Santa Cruz, CA 95061-8484 Phone: (831) 425-8436 Fax: (831) 425-8437 Email: pwooten@jesthealth.com Web Site: www.jesthealth.com Images for a Lifetime Photography www.imagesforalifetime.com Crowne Plaza Hotels and Resorts Family members of AATH President Shirley Trout enjoyed a lifetime of laughter, and this loving, supportive family wanted to put in their respective two-cents’ worth…Okay, okay, so it was a lot more than two cents. The association thanks them for their generosity! The 2003-2004 Board gave blood, sweat, tears and a BUNCH of in-kind financial assistance to the association and the conference throughout the year. Thank you, Transition Board! 2004 Conference THANK YOU, CONFERENCE VOLUNTEERS hanks so much to our able volunteers who helped pull off a fantastic conference. Everyone involved greatly appreciated your assistance! T Special thanks goes out to Volunteer Coordinator, Joye Swisher. That she does this for a living probably had nothing to do with the fact that she was phenomenal— (wink, wink). The wonderful volunteers Joye recruited included Karen Dahmer, Sherry Miller, Debbie Nupp, Cheryl Ann Oberg, Candy Waters, Danny Donuts, Mary Garvey, Carol Johnson, Enid Schwartz, Jeanne Freespirit, Marge Lalich, Cassandra Wenz, Jenny Herrick, Bruce Baum, Forrest Wheeler, Lenny Dave, Rudy Wilson Galdonik, Marletta Roberts, Lenny Ravich, Heather Cramer, Bruce Johnson, Carol O’Flaherty, Deb Hart, Carol Moore, Jennifer Donovan, Michael Kerr, Herb and Penny Voelker. And the winners were: We held two drawings in the course of the recent conference. 1) Free Beach Blanket Babylon tickets: Laurie Orloff, Dallas, Texas, and Carol Ann Small, Massachusetts 2) 2-night stay at any Crowne Plaza Hotels and Resort in the continental U.S.: Karen Dahmer, Florida. CONGRATULATIONS, ALL. Thanks for getting involved in this year’s conference so you could be a winner—in even more ways! 10 the humor connection | Spring 2004 | www.aath.org By Sara Sellars ans Funny Lessons for Unfunny Times I A M A R E C OV E R I N G I N T E L L E C T UA L ! This is just one of the lessons I learned at the recent San Francisco convention. My first AATH gathering was great fun and reinforced the idea that a positive attitude is one of life’s most important gifts. Throughout my professional life as an educator, humor has proven a valuable teaching tool. Students always learn and remember more if they are having fun. For administrators, humor facilitates happy teams of teachers, and the real winners, of course, become the students. More recently, in my personal life, laughing has allowed me to cope with some otherwise awful times. I’d like to share a few of the lessons I’ve learned along the way. ANGELS ASSUME MANY CURIOUS FORMS “angels” my condition might have turned out like his. HUMOR HELPS US ENDURE T R Y I N G S I T U AT I O N S To help mend my broken neck, surgeons installed a halo head brace by securing four screws into my skull. As if that wasn’t enough hardware, it was then attached to a vest to keep my upper torso and neck from bending or moving. After seeing me in this predicament for the first time, visitors’ faces showcased the most incredible looks of pity. After the initial shock subsided, they would try to make me laugh. The most memorable line: “What do you do when there is lightning?” While I appreciated the jokes, the pitying looks were too much for me. My nephew devised the perfect solution to my problem. He decided I should attach a shower curtain to the halo ring and close it so to block out the unpleasant glances. According to the plan, I would only open the curtain when visitors started to make me laugh. Just his idea alone sent me into hysterics. LAUGHTER IS MEDICINE! LAUGHTER BRINGS HOPE! Up until the last 12 years of my life, I had been a hospital only twice, delivering two sons into our family. That all changed one Sunday, during a family road trip. En route to Arkansas, a horrid car wreck left my son, Stuart, with cuts and abrasions, my husband, Jim, with a broken collarbone, and me with a broken neck. Right after Jim and I crawled out of the car—before the dust had even settled—we saw a few guys walking toward us. I thought we were just in shock and hallucinating! It turns out our “angels,” five paramedics on their way to work, just happened to be following us and saw the accident. After checking out Stuart and scheduling to have him air lifted to a Phoenix hospital, they asked me where I hurt. I replied, “Everywhere,” but that my neck pain was the worst. Placing me on the ground, they started two IV’s and held my neck until other help arrived. Bottom line: I broke the same bone as Christopher Reeves, had it not been for our When it rains, it pours. In the last ten years, I suffered a broken leg, a broken finger, an emergency appendectomy, a hernia removal, and a brain tumor. Throughout it all, I learned a great deal about survival. I would have never made it if I had not been surrounded with lots of supporters who made me laugh. The AATH newsletter arrived during one of my recoveries, and I read it cover to cover. What struck me is that everything the association stands for…I lived it—and continue to thrive. For this reason, attending this year’s convention meant so much to me. www.aath.org | Spring 2004 | the humor connection 11 Shenanig E L E C T I O N R E S U LT S A N N O U N C E D C H A N G I N G O F T H E G UA R D MORE Conference Y our AATH treasurer for the next two years is Saranne Rothberg. Saranne (sounds like “Karen”) has a background in fundraising and non-profit management, and we look forward to her sharing her talents and passion with this association. Thanks and deepest appreciation go out to the retiring board, who will forever be known for their courage and dedication during an amazing “Transition Year.” The retiring board was made up of the following officers: • Shirley Trout, President • Allen Klein, President-Elect • Pam Palis-Kalisz, Secretary • Bobbe Lyon, Treasurer • Ann Weeks, Past-President … and appointees (who did double-duty as committee chairs): • Don Baird • Bruce Baum • Ron Berk • Lenny Dave • Ed Dunkelblau • Mary Garvey • Deb Hart • Linda Henman • Jacki Kwan • Debbie Nupp • Roz Trieber • Patty Wooten Thanks also go out to candidate Tim Davis, who has agreed to help the association reach its financial goals, and to Bobbe Lyon, who served so ably as treasurer for the past two years. We look forward to Bobbe’s involvement in other areas of the association’s growth. THANK YOU, ALL THREE. Thank Challenged with the task of leading the association through this upcoming “Formation Year,” your board for 2004-2005 are: Officers: (same as above, except for Saranne Rothberg, who was elected treasurer, replacing Bobbe) and appointed members, at-large: Don Baird, Ron Berk, Lenny Dave, Leslie Gibson, Roz Trieber and Steve Wilson. Please help welcome these new “leaders of the footsoldiers” as we work together to help AATH reach new heights—in member services, membership and funding! YOU W H E R E W O U L D A AT H B E W I T H O U T PAT T Y A N D E D ? There’s no way to conceive of AATH today if it had not been for the dedication and influence of our two illustrious, long-standing conference co-chairs—and past presidents—Ed Dunkelblau and Patty Wooten. If there were ever two people who helped carve out a niche and define a path for a cause, these two have done that for applied and therapeutic humor. Patty and Ed were given a public expression of our thanks at the Saturday evening Awards Banquet (and we even surprised ‘em in the process!), but if you were unable to attend, please let them know how much they have meant to your life—and to the life of this association. On behalf of everyone whose lives you have touched, thank you, Ed and Patty. Those words are so inadequate to express the extent of our gratitude. 12 the humor connection | Spring 2004 | www.aath.org ans Ode to Our Make Mine “AATH GOLD!” This year, when it’s time to send in your membership renewal, we encourage you to go for the gold—that is—the Gold level of AATH Membership! Benefits include your own AATH web page and a link from the AATH website member directory to your own website. See examples at http://www.aath.org Membership Well, the conference is over. We laughed with our friends, Bridging our differences, Really, truly, never ends. From Israel to Iceland To Blackfoot, Idaho, AATH still has lots of room to grow. So give the gift of laughter Or scientific news. A membership with AATH Is sure to chase off the blues. Association for APPLIED and HUMOR THERAPEUTIC One-year Gold Membership is only $117. Call the AATH office today at 602-995-1454 and say, “Make mine AATH Gold!” I invite every current member to sign on one new member this year. (I signed on my wonderful dentist, Dr. Merle White.) It’s easier than putting kids through college—and a lot cheaper, too! Got questions about membership? Need info on whom to connect with in your state or country? Want to be part of the membership team? Contact me, at gruhart5@pdnt.com. NEEDED: People in and around Florida! Blessings of Joy to You, Deb Hart, AATH Membership Chair www.aath.org | Spring 2004 | the humor connection 13 Book Review By Art Gliner The Morality of Laughter by F. H. Buckley humor practitioner for over a quarter century, I have always sought out information that will better the lives of the general public. In my experience, the most effective humor literature is readily understandable. A In his text, F. H. Buckley presents theories, theses and a morality of laughter in a broad philosophical context. So in terms of practical information, it’s slim pickings. This book is best suited for those interested in academic discourse on laughter and humor. If you count yourself among those individuals, you’ll find plenty of food for thought. Buckley covers a great deal of writings about laughter through the centuries. In the first chapter, Buckley details the ideas of Hobbes and Bergson. For instance, he distinguishes between positive and normative theories of superiority—great stuff…if you can fit that into a laughter session or explanation of the benefits of laughter. For balance, he does mention attacks on the superiority thesis, such as Dorothy Parker’s observation, “I don’t think that the superiority idea is true at all. The funny people you like best are the people you laugh with.” Those of you familiar with Robert Provine’s book on laughter will readily identify with that viewpoint. There are far too many laughter differentiations to touch on here. Here is one example: Exuberant laughter comes in two forms: triumphant laughter, where we exult in our success against an adversary, and carnival laughter, where we mock constraining social norms and authorities. Both kinds of laughter express our relief at surmounting an obstacle. The author supplements his own thoughts about laughter with quite a few quotes from famous and infamous people—from Plato and Aristotle to Nietzsche and Norman Vincent Peale. On the one hand, you have the philosophical Buckley: “Our sense of play in this world offers us a glimpse of joy in the next.” There is also the practical Catullus: “Nothing is more fatuous than a fatuous smile.” Peppered throughout this largely academic text are several thoughts, in plain language. Practitioners: If you are willing to dig, you may find a few usable gems. 14 the humor connection | Spring 2004 | www.aath.org MEMBER Christine Clifford, C.S.P., Edina, MN was featured in the Winter Issue of CURE magazine, along with Dr. Paul E. McGhee, in an article entitled “Humor and Healing: Does It Really Help?” Christine is the author of four books including Not Now…I’m Having a No Hair Day! And is CEO/President of The Cancer Club, a company that markets humorous and helpful products for people with cancer. Paul McGhee is author of Health, Healing and the Amuse System: Humor as Survival Training. speaking, Past-Prez After seventeen years ofly has a new book! KATHY PASSANISI final WELL is about IT’S YOUR LIFE—CHOOSEmake to be healthier, simple choices one can and much more balhappier, calmer, saner, ed with her humor. anced. Of course, it’s lac Welcome New Members!! • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Chris Balmer Karol Birchfield, B.S., M.A. Joyce Brack Robin Burnham John Conn Peggy Coonley David Cooperberg, M.A., M.S.N., C.G.P. Jeannie Date-Jorgensen Irwin Yuri Friman Beth Gray Lyn Hadden Alan Halperin, M.D. Lisa Hamil Sara Hostelly Sherri Kalinkowitz Sara Lamnin, R.T.C., C.T.R.S. Carolyn Leung Lauren Martin Eldon J. McKamy Richard Miller A. Kay Moorhouse Bob Nozik Allan O’Meara Arya Pathria Kim Petersen, M.D. Gail Randel Archie Richards Lois Richter Gail Ellen Riegler Donna Scemons Arthur Segal, L.C.S.W. Carol Ann Small Beth Terry Cliff Thomas, R.P.H. Dana Vander Mey Rachelle Weiss Ellen Weissman Patricia Witte Fran London, has published a chapter in a book on how to use humor when teaching nursing students: “Using Humor in the Classroom” appears in the book Teaching Nursing: The Art and Science. Steve Kissell, C.S.P. ce lebrated the third printing of his first book Surviving Life with Laughter, the second pr inting of Humor By the Dozen and Please Go d, Don’t Let Me Laugh Now. www.aath.org | Spring 2004 | the humor connection 15 Scenes 2004 AATH conference! from the Please join us next year in Florida for the 2005 AATH conference! humor connection ASSOCIATION FOR APPLIED AND THERAPEUTIC HUMOR the 1951 W. Camelback Rd. #445 Phoenix, AZ 85015 PRSRT STD First-Class U.S. Postage U.S. Postage PAID PAI D Ames, Iowa Ames, Iowa Permit No. 307 Permit No. 307