August 5: Blast Laughter

We were all standing around waiting for the evening rush to begin. It was a relatively cold evening and those of us that were scheduled to work the patio didn't have anything to do other than to gripe about what a waste it was for us to be there. I, of course, was trying to make the good looking new girl laugh without looking like I was trying. I wanted to appear personable so I was including the entire group in my jokes. Little did I know that this new-hire had a sense of humor of her own.

I don't exactly remember what she said, but I know I was the only one that laughed; and I laughed hard. There weren't any guests on the patio; just the four of us which made my guffaw that much louder. I had mixed feelings of cold and nervousness and I wanted her to think I thought she was funny. I wanted her to see what a laid-back kind of guy I was so I threw my head back, closed my eyes, and bellowed out a hearty laugh that awoke the silent, winter air. When I opened my eyes the other three members of our group stared with blank faces. "It wasn't that funny," one of them said.

We've all done it. A reporter interviewing a star athlete will unintentionally laugh louder than usual at a wise-guy answer. A nervous employee trying to keep his anxiety buried until one small joke allows it to erupt in one loud, obnoxious burst. A punk waiter trying to impress the new girl at work.

One of my favorite movie scenes is from Mary Poppins when Mary is scolding Burt and the children about laughing. She begins explaining that some people laugh through their noses and follows it with an example. After Uncle Albert hisses with laughter at her imitation, she goes on to sing about people that laugh through their teeth. This stops everyone in their tracks until Burt describes people that laugh too fast and those that only blast. HAAAAA!

It's hilarious when it happens. In fact, it's a joke in and of itself! It's embarrassing and fantastic at the same time because you make an ass out of yourself when that's exactly what you were trying avoid.