I love my friend Leretta whose office is down the hall from mine. Every day she makes me smile and often puts me in stitches. The hallway my office is in is filled with quite an eclectic cast of characters, but Leretta is the one I see daily and the one who daily brings sunlight into our otherwise fairly sunlight-free hallway of offices.

Leretta is nice to everyone, the students love her and she doesn’t take herself too seriously, which I really like. Too many folks get wrapped up in their ego and start taking even the simplest things too seriously. Hank Ketchum once said “Flattery is like chewing gum. Enjoy it but don’t swallow it.” We can all get puffed up sometimes with pats on the back, but like all my cop friends will tell you it only takes one “oh, shit” to wipe away ten “atta’ boys”. Leretta, no matter her accomplishments, remains humble and down to earth, which I find delightfully refreshing.

I like folks who are genuine and who are invested in spreading joy. That matters to me more and more as I age. These days I have a type A + personality 90% of the time and I depend on the folks around me that I hold dear to keep me grounded in what really matters. Leretta does that.

I have lots of Leretta stories. She has done so many things that have made me laugh. Indeed, I cannot even think of Leretta without smiling…that, my friends, is a gift.  Leretta has a series of facial expressions that she uses for emphasis with her dry and sometimes subtle humor that slay me. Her humor just lights me up. It is such a gift to experience, especially on the days that aren’t all sunshine and lollipops.

My new favorite thing this year came from Leretta. She shared it with me one day and I loved it so much that I adopted it wholesale for my own use and glee. I cannot deliver the line the way she does. When she says it the casual person would believe she means it, but those who know her understand how delicious the delivery is.

I told my students outright this semester that this was my new favorite thing and that they should probably consider that most faculty would feel similarly about the question, “I was absent yesterday, did you do anything important in class?” My new answer (that I totally lifted from Leretta) is, “No, we couldn’t do anything important – you weren’t there.” As soon as I said it to my classes they had a knowing giggle. I am sure many of them have said this to faculty members before (indeed, I may have said it a time or two back in the day). They got the message – every class day is important (at least to the faculty member).

That approach, infusing subtle humor into a more serious message to make it stick, is a Leretta trademark. I lack the subtleties in delivery and cannot hold the deadpan face for as long as Leretta so my delivery of borrowed material is not as delicious, but it is efficient. Her comedic timing and ability to carry a moment are impeccable. She may have missed her calling on sitcoms, but I am selfishly not complaining.

The gift of joy and laughter is a mighty one. The fact that Leretta takes the time to give me that gift every day is noted by an imprint on my heart. She is a dear and damn funny woman.

Leretta is one of the strong, funny women that populate my little world and to her and the other women young and old who add joy to my existence with their words and deeds I say thank you…all kindnesses are noted and getting me to laugh until I snort, well that gets you a place in the will.   Much love to my girlfriends today and every day.

Day seventy-nine of the new forty – obla di obla da

CC