Why is it that some people, when confronted with fear or danger or simply a stressful situation, start laughing?
This morning I was heading to the gym to work out (be impressed!) when I got a call from my mom telling me my dad had been taken to the ER for severe back pain. After all the x-rays came back, they determined he had a collapsed disk and promptly scheduled surgery for tomorrow.
Now normal people would assume a respectful demeanor, but not us! Oh no…that was simply our cue to pull out the one-liners. It started with my mom saying he looked like he was on a “two-buck chuck” binge (that's $2 wine made by Charles Shaw) after they'd given him painkillers, then my sister made comments about buying Mom and Dad a tandem wheelchair. A few more wisecracks were tossed around and it was all downhill from there...
It really is a horrible trait but it just comes so naturally to us. When my little 96 year old grandfather was down to his last days, my sister took his sweet face into her hands and with all seriousness said to him “Grandpa! If you see ‘the light’ STAY AWAY! Do you hear me? STAY AWAY FROM THE LIGHT!” Poor Grandpa...may he rest in peace.
My oldest brother, Steve, is the same way. My second brother, Ron, tells how one day when he was about 17, he was driving to his girlfriend's house out in the country and just as he was getting off the freeway, he saw a guy flagging him down as he ran towards Ron's beat-up VW Bug. Now normally that would be cause to drive faster but seeing as it was his BROTHER, he thought maybe he should pull over. So he did and Steve hurriedly climbed in shouting, “GO! GO!” Ron, being only slightly obtuse, realized the wisdom in this directive about the time the THIRD bullet whizzed past his head. He said the whole time he was fleeing for his life at 27 mph (from what he later learned were car-thieves) Steve was laughing hysterically. Who does that???
I also remember the time when I was about 12 years old and somebody was breaking into my friends home while we were there alone. She was screaming hysterically while curled up in the fetal position and hiding under a table and I was doubled over laughing.
It really is a strange response and yet I know I'm not the only one out there who does this. So I'm betting there are a few of you who can regale us with a good "funeral" story or two! Anyone?
Posted by PamCHBF at March 8, 2005 05:12 PM