Cyndi Palmer: Life is funny sometimes

In light of National Mental Health Care Week, I suggest everyone go out, if even for 10 or 15 minutes, to take in the fresh air and glorious splendor of Grand County’s aspens changing colors.

It’s so important to remember to take care of yourself and monitor your emotions, and this down time between Grand County’s hot summer entertainment and sensational ski season is an opportune time. Tending to your own mental health and emotional well-being will make you a better, more reliable resource for friends and family members during their times of need.

Or walk around Granby for a good laugh — there’s an incredible array of scarecrow entries in this year’s Granby Oktoberfest Scarecrow contest from businesses, many of them with humorous themes and attire. People can vote on their favorites and there’s a kid’s scarecrow contest Saturday.

Laughter is said to be “the best medicine.” It relieves stress and promotes healing and has even shown to enhance communication in the workplace and classroom. On that note I thought I’d pass along a few laughs from a twist on a mental hospital phone menu (for those of you like me, who can be “a little eccentric” at times). To show you care, do your part and share it with at least one unstable person in your life.

“Thank you for calling the state mental hospital. Please select from the following menu options:

If you are obsessive-compulsive, press 1 — repeatedly.
If you are codependent, please ask someone to press 2 for you.
If you have multiple personalities, press 3, 4, 5 and 6.
If you are paranoid, we know who you are and what you want, stay on the line so we may trace your call.
If you are delusional, press 7 and your call will be forwarded to the Mother Ship.
If you are schizophrenic, listen carefully and a little voice will tell you which number to press.
If you are manic-depressive, hang up. No matter what number you press, nothing will make you happy.
If you have bipolar disorder, please leave a message before or after the beep, but please wait for the beep.
If you have short-term memory loss, press 9.
If you have short-term memory loss, press 9.
If you have short-term memory loss, press 9.
If you are menopausal, set the gun down, hang up, turn on the fan, lie down and have a good cry. You won't be crazy forever.

Items to look out for include Morales Farms’ food drive with the Church of Eternal Hills, in which people can trade canned goods for fresh produce; and the artwork of Dr. John Littrell, Peggy Lenahan, Jane Lynch, and Ann Gee on display through mid-October at Jackstraw Mountain Gallery in Grand Lake.

Food for thought: “Laughter is the closest distance between two people.” - Danish born American comedian Victor Borge. “The human race has one really effective weapon, and that is laughter.” - Mark Twain.