Volume X, Issue 26
December 8, 2021
Word of the Week: laughter
Dear ,
Whew, what a full week! I realized a few days ago that this was going to be a "time machine" Word-zine, but hadn't made my mind up which issue to treat you to again. And then, on my walk (I do try not to skip those, no matter how full the day), I realized that I hadn't yet shared with you my longtime student, client, and friend
Kathy Gruhn's latest book, Fight Naked.
However, in December of 2018, I featured her first book of true, and very funny, stories, Drug Tested for Being Happy. And, while so much has changed—in our lives, our country, our world—since then, thankfully, a lot hasn't. So I have changed out the book covers and the featured writing (from "Head Over Heels" to "Welcome Wagon Striptease"—don't worry, Kathy's stories are never more risqué than a mild PG). Enjoy this "blast from the past" and new story . . .
When's the last time you laughed until you cried?
The lady in black (third from the left) in this photo, Kathy Gruhn, gave the rest of us in this photo a whole evening's worth of that kind of hilarity this past Tuesday up at the Tryon Fine Arts Center in the mountains of North Carolina (where Kathy lives) at an event to unveil her new book, Drug Tested for Being Happy: True Stories to Make You Laugh.
Lisa, Mary, Bri dgett, Lisa, and I were happy to make the more than two-hour drive to celebrate with her. After all, she makes the
drive down the mountain to Charlotte each week to be a member of our Under Construction class.
Besides, we knew we were in for a good time. Kathy can't help but to make people laugh. As Jack Canfield says, “Kathy Thorson Gruhn’s true stories are so ridiculous, and outrageous, that they’re bound to make you, your
friends, and your family laugh.”
Of course, you are more than welcome to check out Kathy's book. (2021: And her NEW book!)All of us beaming from this photo would love it if
you did. (To get a small sampling, one of her "true stories," as Kathy calls them, is the featured writing this week. Scroll on down to read “Head Over Heels.”)
But what I really want to encourage you to do this week is to spend a goodly amount of time with whatever it is that makes YOU laugh. And to try your hand at writing some funny material of your own, true or otherwise. Because, while laughter
may or may not be the best medicine, it is scientifically proven to be good for us. And we all deserve a hearty daily dose.
Love, light, and laughter,
Maureen
WordPlay Success Story
"My time with Maureen has blossomed into many projects."
Meet Kathy Gruhn
Photo of Maureen, Kathy, and Under Construction classmate Mary Struble Deery reviewing Mary's photos
by fellow Under Construction member Lisa Kunkleman.
Kathryn Thorson Gruhn grew up in the small town of Blooming Prairie in southern Minnesota. She moved to the South with her husband in the late seventies and currently lives on a horse farm in Tryon, North Carolina. She has two grown daughters and two grandchildren.
Before becoming a writer, she was a speech pathologist for 35 years, working primarily with children ages birth to seven, which prompted her to create the My Baby Compass program. My Baby Compass is a program for parents and caregivers of children Birth to Seven that promotes the early identification of developmental delays. She recently entered in a joint
venture to get My Baby Compass evidence-based and into an App that will be available worldwide. For more information, visit www.mybabycompass.com.
Kathy is a bestselling author with the first edition of Soul for Success, for which she received an Editor’s Choice award.
She has been telling funny stories for many years and was finally prompted by Jack Canfield, the Chicken Soup of the Soul creator, to gather them in a book after he learned that writing them down was one way she handled the grief of losing her husband of forty-three years. Kathy's greatest gift is making people laugh through her stories
and jokes.
What Kathy says about WordPlay
I joined one of Maureen's WordPlay classes in the spring of 2006 and the first thing I ever wrote was the story, "Duct, Duct, Boots," which is in my new book, Drug Tested for Being Happy. When Maureen asked me to read “Duct, Duct, Boots” in front of the class, I was so nervous—I had never been asked to read something personal that I had written. She loved the
story and when I wrote more, she encouraged me to place them in a book. I didn't think people would be interested in my stories, but I should have listened. Now, twelve years later, Amazon can't keep the book in stock: I have sold over 200 books in five days.
This hasn't been the only success that my writing coach (AKA midwife Maureen) has helped me produce. My time with Maureen has blossomed into many projects, including the My Baby Compass series mentioned above.
Throughout this time, I've also had the support of my WordPlay Under Construction class members, which has been invaluable to me. In addition to suggesting titles for stories, critiquing content, and giving me advice to help me improve my work, they made me accountable, which led me to reach my goals.
Meanwhile, I’m continuing to write funny true stories and the next book, Fight Naked, will be out in 2021. Maureen, along with Jack Canfield, the creator of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series, have me convinced that the world needs more laughter. I am having a blast fulfilling my purpose!
My mother taught me to bring comfort food to people who have just moved into the neighborhood and for neighbors who are having bad luck. So, when I heard that a new family had moved to my street, I decided to bring them a homemade apple pie.
I was happy to know that the Washingtons had a little girl the same age as my daughter, Alice. All of her current playmates were boys, and active ones at that! Dr. Washington would be a wonderful companion for my husband, who was also a doctor. I wanted to make a
good first impression and let them know I was just kitty-corner from their house. If they needed anything, I was there to help.
While the pie was cooling, I took a shower, curled my hair, applied makeup, and put on a cream-colored dress covered with bright red hibiscus flowers, along with nylons and pumps with a small heel. I found jewelry that matched, then headed out the door with my pie
in hand.
There was no walkway from the street to their front door. I had to cross over their freshly seeded lawn, which was covered in wheat straw.
I rang the bell, and just as the door opened, I felt something tickle me under my dress.
“Hello, I’m Dr. Washington,” our new neighbor said as he held open the door. “Come on in.”
All of a sudden, I felt a pinch. No, a sting! I started hopping up and down.
“Here,” I said, quickly handing him my pie and swatting my hind end. “Oh, my, I can’t stand it!”
Yet another sting on my derriere propelled me to leap forward. “Sorry, I can’t wait.”
I tore off my shoes and grabbed the right toe of my nylons with my other foot, yanking so hard my knee flew up, almost hitting Dr. Washington in the crotch.
“I have to take my clothes off,” I yelled.
As I lifted and fanned my dress, Dr. Washington watched me with his mouth hanging agape. How could he know I had yellowjackets stinging me all over my body?
Fortunately, his wife came and poked her head around her husband. “What’s going on here?” she asked.
“Yellowjackets. I must have stepped on a nest when I walked across your yard.”
“Follow me to the powder room,” she said.
The minute the bathroom door was shut, I yanked off all my clothes down to my underwear. As yellowjackets swarmed all around me, I swatted them with the hand-embroidered towels from the towel rack. There I was, making a mess in my neighbors’ brand-new bathroom. Bug
guts were everywhere. My mascara and lipstick were smudged, and bee parts were hanging from my hair. I was a mess.
“How’s it going?” Mrs. Washington called through the door.
“I think I’ve killed all the yellowjackets.”
“Are you allergic? Need Benadryl?” She paused, then asked, “Is the pie for us?”
“Yes, I wanted to bring you something special.” Was that a chuckle I heard?
“Come out when you’re ready,” she said.
After I got my clothes on, I peered around the bathroom door. Dr. Washington was still standing there, holding my pie. “Sorry I destroyed your powder room.”
“Glad to know it was bees under there. I didn’t know what to think when you arrived at my door lifting your dress, tearing off your nylons and screaming, ‘I can’t wait’ while you swatted your hind end.”
“Welcome to the neighborhood!” I said sheepishly, my face red.
“We surely won’t forget you! By the way, what kind of pie is it?” Dr. Washington asked.
“It started off as apple, but now I believe it’s humble pie.
WordPlay Now! Writing Prompt
This is WordPlay—so why not revel in the power and potential of one good word after another? This
week, it's "laughter."
PROMPT: Write one of your own funny "true stories." Or write any scene, story, or poem that makes you (or one of your characters) laugh.
It's fun to play with prompts in community with fellow writers, and to be able to share the results when you're done. You can find out about WordPlay classes, workshops, and retreats here.
MAUREEN RYAN GRIFFIN, an award-winning poetry and nonfiction writer, is the author of Spinning Words into Gold, a Hands-On Guide to the Craft of
Writing, a grief workbook entitled I Will Never Forget You, and three collections of poetry, Ten Thousand Cicadas Can't Be Wrong, This Scatter of Blossoms and When the Leaves Are in the Water.
She believes, as author Julia Cameron says, "We are meant to midwife dreams for one another." Maureen also believes that serious "word work" requires serious WordPlay, as play is how we humans best
learn—and perform. What she loves best is witnessing all the other dreams that come true for her clients along the way. Language, when used with intentionality and focus, is, after all, serious fuel for joy. Here's to yours!
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