My friends and family who know me well, know how much I love to laugh. It’s like the stuff of life… no, it’s like air. I HAVE to do it regularly. So, since I need laughter to live, I feel compelled sometimes to do things to make others laugh because what goes around comes around right? So this next line probably won’t shock you - I like to make unusual and fun messages on my answering machine at home. I also like to leave messages and make phone calls using different character voices (I have Patrick Fraley, one of the voices of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to thank. His Using Character Voices for Fun and Profit is outstanding!). Long time friends are on to me but every once in awhile an unsuspecting new friend gets the “Tim Treatment”. It goes something like this (with a strong British accent)“Hi Mr. Van Winkle. It’s Freddick P. Bodywrap with the Love Life City Morgue. Today we are offering a special - “buy two funeral services, get your mother-in-laws absolutely free”. This limited time offer expires…well before you expire….which we hope… You probably get the picture.

Last week, it was my friend Anne’s birthday. Anne is the coolest girl I know. We met when we were freshmen at Florida Southern College and stay in contact about twice a year. I LOVE Anne-sters (my name for her) as she makes me laugh and she has the hippest lingo - it’s really a culture. But as you’ll see below, she is like a sister to me. When my wife and I were married, I told Anne-sters that I wanted her to be a groomswoman in my wedding, but the numbers just didn’t play out (I just think she didn’t want to wear a tux).

So last week, I call on her birthday and give her the “Tim Treatment”. If I say so myself, it was ….well … very… let’s just say “not that there is anything wrong with it” ( for all you Seinfeld lovers). She sent me the email below. It made my day.

Tim,

So every year, my birthday falls on or near Thanksgiving. It’s always a mixed blessing for me because even though I get to spend my birthday with my family, I get to spend my birthday with my family. . . if you know what I mean.

This year, we were driving back from South Carolina. A what-should-be 5 hour drive took 7 hours and included, bumper to bumper traffic due to a flipped tractor-trailer, two overflowing diapers of pee pee and pooh pooh that permanently seeped into the car seat fabric, door-to-door crying and general gnashing of teeth. As we drove into the garage we all let out a sigh of relief to be home.

Due to the extenuating circumstances, I had no cake, no cards from my children or husband and no gifts to open on my birthday. Not that I’m fussy, but that sucks.

The best part of my day was getting your message. It was such a wonderful feeling to have a 5 minute belly laugh after the stress of my trip, but also to be remembered every year from you, my friend I have known for 27 years who-if-I-kissed-I’d-throw-up. I think I even forgot your birthday this year. Thank you for remembering me!!!

Anne-sters

It’s up to you now. Go make someone’s day. After all, what goes around comes around. If you are in the Richardon Circle of Trust (watch Meet the Parents), or a member of the village, when you least expect it you just might hear….”Hello, this is the White House. I have Hillary on the line…can you hold for her?”

Tim Richardson is an inspirational speaker who speaks about how giving increases employee morale, lowers employee turnover, increases customer loyalty and creates higher profits for Fortune 500 companies, associations, and national conventions. He is the founder of the The Worlds Biggest Blog Party an event which will connect bloggers from all over the world to raise money for charity. He is also founder and president of the Bill Walter Melanoma Research Fund. For more information on Tim, go to www.TimRichardson.com