Sometimes, life gives us incredibly talented people.  Sometimes, amazingly funny people.  One of the people who I admire most (without even knowing a  THING about the guy)…. is Gary Larson.

Today is his birthday.  He was born on August 14th, 1950 in Tacoma, Washington.  If you aren’t familiar with him, he is the genius who created The Far Side.

Day after day, I would look forward to opening up the newspaper and reading The Far Side.  A one square cartoon, most of the time, with one caption… or none at all.  And oh, each day… I truly would laugh out loud.

He was so incredibly good at finding the funny in the possibilities of life.

My all time favorite, is the one with the two circus bears riding a motorcycle in the circus ring… both of them muzzled and wearing funny hats.  And the Male Bear says to the Female Bear…’Looks like a trap,’ I said.  ‘Nonsense,’ you said.  ‘Who would set a trap way out here in the woods?’ you said.

Oh my gosh.  Now…. let’s all LOL.

Day after day, he would come up with the hilarious.  About anything and everything.

Then, on a very sad day in  October of 1994, he announced he was retiring from writing the “Far Side”… and I cried.  Almost as hard as I cried the day Gilda Radner died.

So on January 1, 1995, the last Far Side appeared.  And then it disappeared.

I can only say thanks to the Universe for giving us people like that.  Those that bring joy to our lives, time and again.  Sometimes it is someone we don’t even know.  But the world knows them.

Today is also my Aunt Janet’s birthday.  My Dad’s youngest sister.  She  is another one I could go on and on about… a great gift in this life.  I thought the world of my Dad.  I think the world of my Aunt J.  You can tell they were cut from the same cloth.  I am thankful for her too.

So Happy Birthday Aunt J. and Gary Larson.  Once again, lucky me.

 The fragrance of flowers spreads only in the direction of the wind. But the goodness of a person spreads in all directions.  — Chanakya