I’m traveling (when am I not traveling), and one of the fun parts of being on the road, besides traffic – insert a strong tone of sarcasm here – is enjoying random acts of creativity from others. Case in point, the license plate I passed this evening that read “LOL4EVR.”

I think it’s safe to share this driver’s license plate number as long as I don’t mention which state I’m in. Just assume I’m permanently in the state of confusion, and we’ll always be on the same page.

Who was driving this license plate down the interstate? Nope, not a millennial or any other semblance of a regular social acronym/emoticon user. It was a man in his late 60s. And what sage advice!

For those who aren’t aware, or may literally live under a rock, “LOL” means “laugh out loud.” Ironically, when I Google it, I get a page full of options for “league of legends,” but don’t let that confuse you. Unless you’re in the same state that I am, in which case, welcome home.

Laughter is my all time favorite sound, second only to a warm summer breeze tickling the leaves of a deciduous tree, but I digress. On the flight that came before tonight’s car rental, I actually removed my noise canceling earphones to listen to a child in the seat behind me. Trust me, I’m usually using them because of a child in the seat behind me, but this one was laughing hysterically, and I could not  help but to absorb the full breadth of her joy and swim in it.

I love to hear laughter, I love to laugh and I love to laugh at myself. I also love reminders to do so, like from messages on random license plates and in text messages that feel compelled to end with something other than a simple period or exclamation mark. If we really did LOL every time we typed it, the world would be one hell of a great place to live in, wouldn’t it?

Here’s hoping you’re LOLing wherever you are – or at least chuckling. Maybe snickering. Or letting out a much needed guffaw. Chortling, perhaps? I know, snorting!

Spread the joy, my friends!! LOL