It’s official—we need a good laugh today. I have to share with you the concert experience I had last year. Dear friends of ours had invited us to go to hear a wonderful artist in concert. The night came, and we were dressed up and in our places all ready for the concert to begin.
Right in front of me a young couple walked in and took their seats. They were dressed to the nines, as we say in the South. He was taking selfies with his telephone, posing dapperly in his fancy suit. Once they settled in, he began to read the program.
Oh, my goodness. Evidently, she had not told him it was a classical concert or that the musician would be playing alone without the assistance of the orchestra that normally accompanied him. As he spied the single chair on the stage, he snatched his head toward her and said, “What the heck?!”
Oh, that was all it took. I got tickled, and about that time the lights dimmed and the music began. Yes…all classical. I was trying so hard not to look at this young man, but when he started looking at her with glares that could kill someone, it was all I could do to hold in my laughter. It was totally silent in the concert hall except for the notes played by the cellist. I was gasping for air as I tried to keep my laughter at bay!
His next move really sent me into hysterics. He started running his fingers through his hair like Barney Fife does on The Andy Griffith Show. And to make matters worse, his hair was standing straight up on top of his head. Then he laid over in his lap like he was getting sick. I prayed for intermission so I could laugh out loud, but no—another piece began. He sighed and said, “Will this ever end?” The precious wife starting rubbing his shoulders, attempting to console him during his suffering. He was sweating, and, my goodness, you would have thought someone had stabbed the man. I had tears coming down my face. This I would expect from a 12-year-old boy, but this man was in his 30s.
I absolutely would not look at Neal. No way. I knew he could feel my chair shaking as I tried to keep quiet. It became harder and harder, and then finally—intermission! The young man jumped over four people to get out, and I am not sure he ever realized that his wife was still in her chair. Truthfully, he probably hasn’t spoken to her since that evening. And I doubt the selfies made it on their social media.
During the dinner that followed with our friends, I told them all that went on in front of me, and this became the comedy show of the week. We all recounted the many times we had gotten tickled in church, at funerals, and at events that were supposed to be very quiet.
Moral of the story, don’t sit by me if the moment is to be quiet. If there is anything that will make you laugh, I will always pick up on it first and lose it! Laughter is refreshing, and it comes at the most unusual times—I just love the humor in life!