We Are the Knights Who Say...Ni

Last week I was fortunate enough to attend Spamalot, a musical based on the movie, “Monty Python and the Quest for the Holy Grail”. Long story short, it was hilarious! Here’s but a scratch:
Soldier: Are you suggesting coconuts migrate?
King Arthur: Not at all. They could be carried.
Soldier: What? A swallow carrying a coconut?
King Arthur: It could grip it by the husk!
Soldier: It's not a question of where he grips it! It's a simple question of weight ratios! A five ounce bird could not carry a one pound coconut.

After the show, I realized that I haven’t laughed that hard in a while. It occurred to me that we don’t laugh as much as we should some days. It seems like our days are full of seriousness. We get up in the morning not always wanting to do whatever it is we have to do that day such as go to work. We read the paper as we eat breakfast which is jam-packed with stories of tragedy, controversy, and negativity. Many weekdays are all business at work or school. Then we get home and try to relax a bit, but if you turn on the news then you are hit again with the world’s tragedies, disasters, and pain. Too much seriousness throughout the day! I don’t want to hear about politics when I’m trying to relax! Unless it is done by Monty Python:
King Arthur: I am your king.
Woman: Well I didn't vote for you.
King Arthur: You don't vote for kings.
Woman: Well how'd you become king then?
[Angelic music plays...]
King Arthur: The Lady of the Lake, her arm clad in the purest shimmering samite held aloft Excalibur from the bosom of the water, signifying by divine providence that I, Arthur, was to carry Excalibur. THAT is why I am your king.
Dennis: Listen, strange women lyin' in ponds distributin' swords is no basis for a system of government. Supreme executive power derives from a mandate from the masses, not from some farcical aquatic ceremony.

I understand that it is necessary for us to hear about negative things in the news and to be professional when it comes to work and business. We learn from the hardships of others and we trust those who are professional in their businesses and careers. But as humans, we need to laugh, be spontaneous, perform and experience art, and not take ourselves so seriously at times. It is in these occurrences that often bring us the most joy. It is also in these occurrences that can make us feel most human. It is hard to imagine a world in which laughter and art in all its forms is non-existent. If the things that make us smile and laugh were taken away we would become less human in a way.

So in our daily life, let us not forget to laugh, even when there are dreadful things happening in our world. It would be quite a lifeless existence if we didn’t have laughter. Luckily, we do have laughter to brighten our day. “And there was much rejoicing. Yaaayy!”