Tia ran a finger over the smooth surface of the chiseled words. Not one sharp edge. A testament and complimentary showcase of Grandpa’s life. Grandma would have thought Grandpa’s epithet sacrilegious, and right this minute was probably scolding him once more inside their shared plot for his tiring and continuous raillery. He believed God had enlarged his tease gland to twice the normal size and Grandpa fashioned the reason around his optimistic personality. Grandpa took ownership of the claimed gift and made it his life’s mission to help others push a grin onto their anguish filled faces, or draw a smile across their hard set lips, or expel a trickle of found laughter hidden behind a heart of cold stone.

To Grandpa any occasion could use a little laughter. He invited his good-natured banter to travel with him everywhere. It made regular visits to church, garnered frequent attention at the post office and the country store, captivated the concentration of his neighbors, and announced itself at each funeral he officiated.

The sun slipped behind distant mountains and threw out a burst of burnt orange deepening to flame red. The sight brewed Tia’s emotions into an aching need to hear Grandpa’s generous ripples of infectious laughter. A tightness formed deep inside and grew to burn in her throat. She swallowed back tears at Grandpa’s remembered request. “No tears when I’m gone. Partner the energy into smiles and laughter, and let them dance with the winds soothing beat accompanied by the glorious words of the twenty-third Psalm.”

Twilight joined Tia and the sunset melted into a deep purple veil of magnificent, glorious firmament. The verses slipped from her tongue like quiet footsteps on sand. The black silhouette of Dykes windmill spun at rapid speed from the cliff in the foreground, like Grandpa’s quick wit had spit out something hilarious. The image squeezed Tia’s hearts. Did she hear Grandpa’s laughter echo through the leaves of the old oak tree overhead, and whisper his epithet with soft words carried by the fluttered breeze? “Harness your life with vigorous laughter and hang on for the spirited ride.” Or had it only been the wind breaking against the cliff?