Member-only story
Are People Who Laugh at Everything Insane?
Maybe, But They’re Not as Crazy as Those Who Don’t
My high school girlfriend Kathy and I made each other laugh all the time. I mean all. the. time. We laughed so much that my parents threatened to run away from home. Likewise, Kathy’s parents complained that we seemed to respect nothing and make fun of everything, and recommended we see a psychiatrist.
We thought that was hilarious.
I recall one afternoon when Kathy and I were in the back seat of my parents’ car (fully clothed, for once, because they were in the front seat), laughing our asses off over every little thing and driving my folks batty. Eventually, my father briefly quit cursing at other drivers and shouted at us, “You two laugh at everything! What’s wrong with you?!”
Kathy stifled a giggle as I chuckled, “I dunno…everything’s funny.”
To which my father roared, “HOW ABOUT A BASKET FULL OF DEAD BABIES?! IS THAT FUNNY?!”
Kathy and I guffawed and writhed in fetal positions. We could barely catch our breath. Even my mom — who knew to stay clear of Dad’s anger — began to laugh at the absurdity of it.
I have to admit that in retrospect, I can’t blame him. We’re lucky he never drove the car off a bridge.
