Sometimes the people who make the most jokes have endured the most heartbreak. Laughter is definitely a good survival tool.
I remember the terrible tragedy of the seven people killed when the Challenger blew up. The school teacher, Christa McAuliffe, was the one name I recall because she had been chosen over a 1000 others and must have been so excited to have the opportunity to be on the Challenger. Then to lose her life and leave 2 young children and her husband to mourn. U&R