The Inappropriate Laugher

The above photo was snapped a few years ago when we tagged along on one my dad’s work trips to Canada. It was October and rained everyday. This led my mom to scream, “YEAH CANADA! WOOHOO!” every time we took a picture. This shot was taken the first time she did it and I couldn’t hold back the laughter. I get the giggles every time I look at those pictures.

I have the type of face that can reveal every emotion I’m feeling. It’s an open book. When I’m annoyed or upset or disgusted or in pain or delighted, you can tell. This means I can’t hide anything. It also means that my face and body constantly betray me…typically when I laugh at completely inappropriate times.

I am an awkward laugher. I laugh when people get hurt. I laugh at serious situations. I laugh when it’s okay to laugh, but people tend to notice when you laugh at the wrong time. I can’t seem to help myself. It doesn’t matter what I do. This is not a trait I’m proud of, as you will see below.

As a new teacher, you learn a lot about your personality. I learned that even when students are being completely inappropriate and I feel annoyed, I also feel a laugh close to breaking free. I once walked over to a group of students who were up to no good in my class, trying to be tough and tell them to get to work. Of course when I did that, one looked at me and said, “Miss. You crack me up. I know there’s a little smile trying to break free right now.” That is of course when the smile and laugh did come out and I realized that this was going to be a problem.

Not too long after this incident, I sat in a class of my own, as a student. My professor went to sit on his chair and completely fell off. Every one in the class was voicing their concern, “Are you okay? What happened?” I broke down in the back of the room in hysterics. I shook with laughter. Of course in the back of my mind I was thinking I hope he’s okay, but the other part of my brain thought it was hilarious. My friend turned to me and said, “Don’t laugh.” It made it worse. I actually said, “Don’t look at me! It makes it worse!” I bit my finger, but nothing helped. Five minutes after the incident, you could still find me breaking into little fits.

And this brings me to the worst place to laugh. Church. Thank goodness I didn’t go to Catholic school. I can’t imagine the kind of scars I would have. Last Sunday I was sitting in church when a gentleman got up to speak. He literally gave a synopsis of “The Ten Commandments,” the movie. When he first started my face probably looked confused. Five minutes into the reenactment, I was shaking with laughter. Actually shaking. I couldn’t think what to do! I’m sure people were looking at me and thinking I was terrible, but I couldn’t help it. It was horrible.

Anyway. Next time you see me, it will probably be when I’m laughing at someone falling. Just don’t look me in the eye and it will pass…until I recall it at the gym and break into silent giggles again.

Yours truly,
The Inappropriate Laugher