Laughter is surely one of humanity's greatest gifts, for the ability to laugh--- to appreciate the pleasure orabsurdity（荒谬）in daily activities---- allows people, young and old alike, to keep problems in perspective. Children are natural laughers. In situations, both appropriate and inappropriate, thechuckles（咯咯地笑）,giggles（傻笑）, and outrightpeals（洪亮的）of laughter of children can emphasize their innocence, their joyful ignorance of the problems of the world.Levity（轻率）among adults is, unfortunately, far less common, but it is equally welcome. How fortunate are the adults who can react to potentiallyfrustrating situations--- a collapsed tent, a split seam in a pair of pants, a surprise guest--- and see thesheer（全然的）absurdity of their attempts to maintain absolute control. Laughter expresses pleasure, eases tension, and lifts the spirit,. It is a gift we should all share more often.