My oldest daughter has been a big Batman fan since she was young, so when I found a nearly three-foot tall Batman at the Annandale Flea Market years ago I had to buy it for her. Recently she moved into an efficiency apartment and didn’t have room to take Batman with her. Jokingly, I told my family I was going to claim him as my new adventure buddy. 

 

They all rolled their eyes at me. They should have known by now that I have no problem calling attention to myself. I don’t care if I look foolish as long as I’m having fun.

 

Since my family didn’t believe me, I took it as a personal challenge to start bringing Batman everywhere I went. And I have. He likes riding in my car with his head sticking out the sunroof.

 

Batman visited the dentist and got his teeth cleaned. He rode in the cart at Coborn’s holding my grocery list. He attended Rejoice’s Fall Festival and looked for true crime novels at the library. He helped pump gas and played at the park.

 

He attended a movie with my family, ate popcorn and used the facilities afterwards. He rode a motorcycle, helped in the garden and was interviewed by my fellow Citizen-Tribune staff writer, Bill Morgan. He cheered for my youngest daughter at her tennis game.

 

We got our picture taken at District 742’s photo booth during the 10-year anniversary celebration of their language immersion program.

 

Batman attended a Clear Lake and a Lynden Township meeting. The night he showed up at a Clear Lake City Council meeting the mayor was unable to attend, so he was invited to sit in as acting mayor for the evening.

 

Batman has met the Clearwater fire chief, the Clearwater Friends of the Library group, the Clearwater Lions and a number of his young fans. He even posed for a picture with Sen.  Andrew Mathews.

 

Besides embarrassing my kids, why am I doing this? For fun. I enjoy amusing myself and making people smile; Batman has allowed me to do both. To date he has brought a smile to every person who has met him.

 

Having fun is serious business. Laughter is one of the first things a newborn does, and research has proven it can ease physical tension, relax muscles and increase your body’s resistance to infection and disease. Humor can help people deal with fear, pain and anxiety. 

 

Laughter truly is the best medicine, benefiting both physical and emotional health. Humor can help people stay optimistic through hard, stressful times and improve moods.

 

Humor also has social benefits. A good sense of humor is a highly desirable attribute; people like being around others who make them laugh. Laughter

strengthens relationships, attracts others, promotes teamwork and helps ease awkward situations.

 

Life is too short not to find enjoyment wherever you can; humor can be found just about anywhere if you take the time to look for it. 

 

I plan on keeping Batman around for a while yet, so if you see us out and about one day, please stop to say hi and pose for a picture. 

 

Take a tip from Batman. Go out and have a little fun today.