By Jim Hagarty
2016
Humour might seem to others to be my gift. I say that, hopefully not braggingly, because I have won awards for my humour writing and others have told me this.
But to me, humour is my medicine which I have to take many times a day to survive. Precisely because I am too serious about almost everything. I think a lot of “clowns” will tell you the same thing about themselves.
For example, I would like to write long pieces about suicide and I might just do that one of these days. Over the years, I have tried to keep track of the people I have known, some close, some only acquaintances, who have taken their own lives. At last count, that number is nearing 30. That number is higher than many other causes of death that have taken people I have known.
So, when you least expect it, I will drop a serious bomb on you. Maybe I will warn you in the headline. Don’t worry. All that will mean is I haven’t taken my medicine yet that day.
However, I don’t write about things unless I think I have something to contribute to the conversation.
So brace yourselves!