This body of work is dedicated to my father, Ernest J. Collins, for whom I have my most cherished memories and with whom I had the best childhood ever. He taught me many things, amongst them the
importance of love, compassion and laughter. Whether he was telling hilarious stories about the war (yea, he could even make that funny), inviting a disabled trolley car full of strangers in out of a snow storm or bringing a stray dog home on a cold, rainy night, he amazed me.
On rare occasion, he was even able to rescue a Beagle pup from an evil, evil pharmaceutical company, before they conducted experiments on it. I'd spend hours training him to sit up in doll chairs at tea parties. My Dad came to those little parties and He, I , the dolls and the dog had a wonderful time.
Years later, while in an auditorium full of children watching 'The Ugly Dachshund', I experienced uproars of spontaneous, rowdy, pure laughter. It was then I realized the power and sheer joy of this
simple act. And so, together, my little Beagle, Mikey and I will try to get others to experience this wonderful, free, human emotion...laughing.
Here's laughing with you, Pop.