Thursday, August 30, 2007

Laughing


Every one enjoys a good laugh every now and then. It is important to our well being, but consider the types of laughing one does.

There is a simple smile and a “humph” of comedic acknowledgement. Then there is a quick giggle that can move on to an actual laugh that can go on for a few seconds.

By far the coolest laugh is the uncontrollable laugh. This is a laughing session that can last for minutes and then subside but start up again at the drop of a hat for another few more minutes. It often almost sounds like crying because the vocal chord portion seems to shut down yet allowing a breathy/ squeaky sound to emit from the throat; kind of like a squeaky toy.

This type of laughter is rare. I think I’ve only experienced it maybe four times in my life. It’s odd, because I can speak the words that got me going, but they aren’t quite so funny now. At the time they had me on the floor in uncontrollable laughter.

I hope to experience this type of laughter at least once more before my life is over, but I hope it doesn’t happen in public because this type of laughter can mimic being drunk or stoned. I wouldn’t want that to be thought of me unless I actually was, which I never am.

19 Comments:

Blogger Auntie said...

How about the uncontrollable laugh that emits the occasional snort, thus starting everyone laughing again, especially the snorter? Its a vicious cycle. But hilarious.

6:57 AM  
Blogger Me. Here. Right now. said...

I love those laughs. They were rare indeed until I met my friend Doreen. We breakfast together every Sunday. She's made it her mission to send me into uncontrollable laughter each week. She succeeds perhaps once per month, but it gives her great joy and I get a little tension release. I love friends.

7:02 AM  
Blogger Beth said...

I consider myself lucky. I frequently have those uncontrollable fits of laughter - the tears, the snorts, the aching abs.
These "fits' always occur with other women.
Hey, is this a female phenomenon? Kind of like the being able to remember dreams thing?

7:35 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Beth, I think it is a girl-nomenon.

I can't remember the last time I saw a man laugh in such a way. Maybe 20 years ago or so....And they were probably under the influence of some herbs.

7:39 AM  
Blogger Zoe said...

I'm kind of with hahn at home on this one, that kind of laughter is more rare until you meet the right people. We have a group of friends who hang out with at least once a week and we almost always have an on the floor laughing epsidoe everytime we are together. And no, it isn't because we are drunk or stoned. At least not most of the time. It's just that we have a chemisty that works and we all feed off of one another.

8:49 AM  
Blogger Chris McClure aka Panhandle Poet said...

Laughter truly is good medicine.

8:51 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

One of the hardest laughs I had was watching an episode of "Taxi" w/my parents and a few siblings. My dad was laughing so hard Pepsi started the slow burn in his nostrils, so he claimed!

It was the episode where the gang had Jim take the test to become a licensed cab driver. He whispers to the groups, "What does a yellow light mean?" Bobby replies, "Slow down." Jim whispers back, slowly, "What --- does --- a --- yellow --- light --- mean?" Bobby whispers, "Slow down!" Jim says, "Whaaat----- dooooesssss ------ a," pauses and looks back at his paper because he forgot the question, "yellllllooooow ------light ------mean?" Bobby frantically whispers, "Slow down!" Jim says, even slower, "Whaaaaaaaat ---------- a --------- yellllllllllow ----------- liiiiiiiiight ---------- mean?" Even now I start giggling. I think it was the combo of imagining something like that really happening, the frantic look on Bobby's face as he tried to cheat in giving answers and the look on my dad's face as Pepsi came out his nose!

3:06 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Another one I'll post on my blog. Maybe, if I dare. A funny thing I did to my husband w/o meaning to at the bowling alley and almost peed my pants in laughter.

3:10 PM  
Blogger Mike S said...

I'm lucky enough to have a friend, who we see often, that brings this out in both of us. It even spreads to her husband and SWMBO, causing them both to lose control as well. If it happens in public we're a strange looking bunch indeed:)

5:52 PM  
Blogger Auntie said...

MIke, there are some friends that I literally should "diaper-up" before I spend time with!

9:28 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

It seems easy to get stuck in a rut or ones comfort zone these days. I am the last to point the finger on that charge.
I think that a lack of laughter or tears is an indication of of life "out of balance".
Just another thing for us to think about...

10:00 PM  
Blogger Undercover Mother said...

SH has caused me to laugh so hard in the middle of stores that I've had to sit down in the aisle.

My kids laugh so hard that they either almost pee or pee themselves, depending upon their ages.

One of the best memories I have when I was a child was hearing my parents laugh uncontrollably at some movie while my sister and I were in bed. My dad has the most ridiculous laugh ever. It's like "Hee heee heee heeeeeeee." If he laughs hard enough, he wipes is eyes and says, "Oh shit!"

My parents can laugh so hard, they're breathless.

Those things are wonderful.

11:05 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Well, laughter is very much a part of my every day and many chuckles with some upgrading to outright belly laughs.

Here is a typical day...you may want to put some upbeat music on your comp before viewing. Hope it gives you a chuckle...

http://s32.photobucket.com/albums/d17/claudehachey/?action=view¤t=beekeeperdance.flv

6:07 AM  
Blogger The Guy Who Writes This said...

Mike, what is SWMBO?

Are humans the only animals that can laugh? I'm not sure apes do, though it may sound like it.

6:09 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Guess you have to expand window to get URL...

6:15 AM  
Blogger The Guy Who Writes This said...

Nice way to out yourself, Moose.

7:11 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

You know what Guy? I thought about that and recalled the words of my father who once said never put in writing what you don't want the whole world to see. He also told me to never tell your wife anything you don't want the whole world to know. Guess I followed his advice on both counts huh??

7:20 AM  
Blogger Mike S said...

Guy, it comes from the old 'Rumpole of The Baily' along with several other places, it's an anacronym for "She Who Must Be Obeyed", in my case, Mrs Mike:)

12:48 PM  
Blogger The Guy Who Writes This said...

Mike, You've gotta respect a man who can obey.

But then I do respect Moosehead, though he rarely obeys.

6:14 AM  

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