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The shiny red balloon with the words "COWSILLS LOVE YOU" stamped in big bold letters on the sides, looked almost like a soap-suds bubble as it drifter higher and higher into the afternoon sky.
A dozen small children, on the grassy lawn outside the Crippled Children's Association, turned their faces eagerly to the sky, watching the journey of the bright balloon.
Most of these children supported themselves with crutches or braces and some sat in wheel chairs. But there was one thing they all had in common - every face wore a gigantic smile and every eye twinkled with happiness!
TEARS OF LAUGHTER
And the Cowsills, too, were laughing. They had come to entertain these children who didn't always have the opportunity others did to go to live performances. First, they sang and danced for the children, then they presented them with a huge five layer cake and a special gift for each one!
If someone looked close enough, they could see that there wasn't a dry eye any place! Everyone had tears of laughter and love streaming down his face. There was no trace of sorrow, no pity or self-consciousness. Where there is real love in action, these things are unknown.
Afterwards, during the long drive home to Santa Monica, the Cowsills station wagon attracted lots of attention! People stopped to look as the car filled with five singing children and a singing mother, whizzed by! Some of the people looked a bit puzzled, some curious, and other had to smile, which, of course, made the Cowsills laugh out loud!
LOVE BRINGS LAUGHTER
Laughter is something that just comes naturally to the Cowsills, especially where love is concerned. What better reason to smile that because of the love in your heart?
The Cowsills have something very special going for them that most people wish they had. They know how to laugh. Not only at mistakes, problems, fun times or beautiful occasions, but more important, at themselves.
You might say that the Cowsills know the importance of a laugh or a smile. They know what it means to go through hard times - they did so themselves, but always with a laugh. Nothing helps more than a little laughter in times of despair. Not phony or cover-up laughter, but real deep down laughs that brighten any kind of day or any situation.
Barry often recalls the day that he was feeling not only down and out, but a little angry. He had really wanted to do the lead on the new record the group was going to cut, and he thought he caould do a good job of it.
But Paul wanted to do it, too, and Barry had lost out this time. Hurt and a bit mad at the world, which is unlike Barry, he had gone up to his room, not even coming down for dinner. Later in the evening, Sue knocked softly on his door, and though he didn't answer, she went in.
BURNING ANGER
Barry sat on a chair by the window, looking out at the evening stars, anger, still burning on his face. Sue walked slowly towards him, picking up a mirror from the dresser on her way.
When she was behind him, she placed one hand on his shoulder and with the other, held the mirror in front of him. At first Barry refused to look into it, then he glanced down. There was a reflection in the mirror but it certainly wasn't him! That scowl on the lips, that hurt in the eyes, the tight set of his jaw!
The more he looked at it, the stranger it got, and the stranger it became, the funnier it seemed! A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth, and then Barry was laughing. "Gee, Sue, I sure look terrible when I'm mad, don't I," he said, and all Sue could do was laugh back.
READY TO FIGHT
Then there was the day the boys threw Susan into the swimming pool! Cold and angry she came to the surface, ready to punch the nearest brother in the mouth! But there they stood at the edge of the pool, laughing their hearts out and smiling down on her, arms outstretched to give her a hand out!
And John had a big soft towel open for her to wrap herself in! Now even Sue knew, when she saw her four groovy guys, that she just couldn't be mad! Soon she was laughing harder than anybody else!
Mini-Mom too, knows the importance of laughter. She remembers long before the Cowsills became entertainers, when they were struggling along in Rhode Island, that laughter helped them through hard times.
HEART TURNED OFF
There was the time they couldn't pay the heating bill and the gas company turned it off - even while a blizzard raged outside! Mini-Mom was so worried about the safety of her children she just didn't know what to do!
But the children came through and brought warmth with them! They laughed at her worries and told her she may never have this opportunity to be so cold again! And with children like that, how can anyone stay worried for long? A little laughter washes away so much sorrow, hatred or fear.
Giving concerts makes the Cowsills laugh, too. They don't consider it work at all because they're bringing happiness to so many people! Just to see their fans wave at them, or sing along to a hit song, brings lots of joy to the Cowsills!
LAUGH INSIDE
And you know, you don't have to have a smile on your face to be laughing. A laugh could be a feeling of happiness and warmth that suddenly comes over you. It could be a wonderful sensation of love and peace!
These are things the Cowsills have discovered through the years. Like when they're on stage performing, they can't break down in the middle of a song and laugh, but that doesn't mean they aren't laughing on the inside!
Sometimes a laugh can be a means of releasing yourself from tension. The Cowsills know the value of this, for sometimes when they're ready to go on stage, like in Las Vegas, they get a sort of scared feeling down in the pit of their stomachs. Will their fans like them? Will they enjoy the songs? Will they sing their very best?
RUN MORE SMOOTHLY
Those are questions that plague every performer before he goes on stage, and that's why the Cowsills know that telling jokes, or fooling around helps things run more smoothly.
Someone will start giggling about something silly and soon they've forgotten what the problems are and before they know it they're on stage singing and laughing inside at their foolish fears of moments ago!
Laughing doesn't always mean that something is funny either. The Cowsills laugh because they feel good, they laugh when the sky is blue and the birds are singing, or when they smell the fresh fragrance of a new rose!
They laugh when Subar, Sue's little dog, races madly around the house, or when they surprise Mini-Mom and their Dad with a big cake on their wedding anniversary.
The Cowsills know how to spread true peace and love because they have it right in their own hearts. They understand the meaning of peace and the wonder of love, and they know the beauty that is found and given in laughter!
Picture Captions read:
QUITE A HUGGER, Paul Cowsill really lets a girl know he cares!
ALL BARRY FANS KEEP IN SHAPE! He just loves this back scratched!
LOADS OF HAPPINESS is in store for Bob - he recently was married!
LITTLE SUSAN'S discovering happines in just being a girl!
A SMILE REALLY lights up John's face, including his eyes!
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