Death from laughter, My Choice..

They say there’s no “good” way to die—but consider this: laughter as the ultimate send-off. In the grand scheme of all the possible exits—slipping on banana peels, choking on chicken nuggets, spontaneous wormhole relocations—meeting one’s demise while howling with glee seems downright glorious. Think of it as the body’s final applause for a show well enjoyed.

Looking back through the ages, our comedic Grim Reaper has outdone himself a few times. Take ancient Greek painter Zeuxis, who saw his own absurdly rendered old lady portrait, lost it in a giggle fit, and promptly expired with a paintbrush in hand. Or Chrysippus, a Stoic philosopher (of all people!) who laughed at a donkey getting tipsy, and never recovered from the hilarity. Medieval monarch Martin of Aragon reportedly cracked up until his insides got the last laugh, and Thomas Urquhart couldn’t contain his mirth upon hearing that Charles II had finally snagged the throne. Even in modern times, people like Alex Mitchell went out with a grin during a Goodies sketch so side-splitting it literally stopped his heart.

So, why choose a cliffhanger when you can have a punchline? Sure, it’s a bit macabre. But if any reaper gets to me, I hope it’s the one who arrives wearing a whoopee cushion instead of a hood. If we must depart, let it be in the middle of an uncontrollable snort and a tear of joy. Because if we’re going to check out anyway, we might as well greet the afterlife with a roaring, life-affirming cackle.

Now, pass me that donkey and the fermented figs—who knows? Maybe I’ll get the joke of the century. Just be sure to have a doctor on speed dial and a good comedy writer on standby. If we’re gonna go, let’s go out laughing.