As I thought about her question, I realized that sometimes it's easier than others. What could I write about for Sunday's column? Nothing came to mind.

Sometimes I "write" a column in my head for days before sitting down at my computer. My editor is good but she can't read my mind. This week even I can't read my mind and that's a disaster.

Is it the cold weather? Maybe.

he sun is shining and it doesn't look cold outside. However, this morning the thermometer showed the temperature was below zero and the wind was blowing. Not good.

Perhaps my problem is the nightmare I had last night. In my dream I was supposed to be getting ready for a big event and nothing was going well. Family members who normally would be helping were just standing around just as confused as I was.

No, I don't analyze dreams but this one was dreadful. I was glad when I woke that none of it was true. In fact, the night before I had finished a job I had been putting off for much too long.

When I checked past columns to see what I had previously written, I didn't get any good ideas about what to share with you. You have enough problems of your own. You sure don't need mine.

A couple of weeks ago, at church, I giggled when the song was announced. My husband turned to look at me, thinking I must be losing my mind.

Not at all. I was thinking of a story I heard some time ago. I hope you enjoy it, too.

A minister was completing a temperance sermon. With great emphasis he said, "If I had all the beer in the world, I'd take it and pour it into the river."

With even greater emphasis he said, "And if I had all the wine in the world, I'd take it and pour it into the river."

And then finally, shaking his fist in the air, he said, "And if I had all the whiskey in the world, I'd take it and pour it into the river."

Sermon completed, the minister sat down.

The song leader stood very cautiously and announced with a smile, "For our closing song, let us sing Hymn No. 365, 'Shall We Gather at the River?'"

Now you can giggle whenever you sing that lovely old song, "Shall We Gather at the River?"

When the winter seems long, perhaps we need to find things to laugh about. The Reader's Digest often has rib-tickling stories so I checked out the most recent edition.

Example: A small town's sheriff was also its veterinarian. One night, the phone rang and his wife answered.

"Let me speak to your husband," a voice demanded.

"Do you require his services as a sheriff or as a vet," the wife asked.

"Both," cried the caller. "We can't get our dog's mouth open and there's a burglar in it."

My sense of humor must need a repair job because I couldn't find other jokes or stories that were amusing enough to pass on. I did find an article, "The Way to Happiness." I'm not unhappy, just tired of winter.

One headline stood out, however: "Dare to laugh out loud." Now that's what I was searching for. "Laughing our loud is exactly the kind of adventurous, bold action that makes you feel happier," the article said.

The article went on to say that smiling makes us feel better. OK, I agree with that. Our Kiwanis Club often sings the group's favorite song: "Smile." It goes like this:

Smile and the world smiles with you, sing a song.

Don't be weary, just be cheery, all day long.

Whenever your trials, your troubles and your cares,

Seem to be more than you can really bear,

Smile and the world smiles with you. Sing a song.

Have a good day.

Billy Wetterer writes a weekly column for The Independent. E-mail her at billybillw@aol.com.