You know, who came to my mind? The actor Robin Williams. He made me laugh so many times, and I could just picture him joking and laughing. And then the sadness overwhelmed me. Because laughter can be that: putting on a happy face. Making a facade. Laughing to cover it up. To pretend. To hide.
Usually laughter is a sign of happiness, to me. I laugh easily and I laugh a lot. Of a funny thought, or an amusing sight. Of other people's jokes or of my own jokes. When other people laugh, I start to laugh. With "my persons" we can start to laugh just by looking at the same thing - no words needed. Sometimes I can not stop laughing and sometimes I laugh when I should not.
A moment I still laugh thinking about, is this one:
An afternoon my two teenage kids and I had gone to the mall in Mumbai for shopping. It turned out that they were shooting a film in there on that day, and we were invited along with a large group to be supporting actors. We were supposed to play "scared mall customers" because there was a bomb and gunmen at the mall. So we lined up, and on signal we, the crowd, should run for our lives for the door. The signal came and we started running, looking the scariest we could. Suddenly I saw myself from a distance, running there in my high heels, with my handbag on my shoulder in the middle of the crowd. Next to me, ran a sikh with a bright red turban, and on the other side an elderly lady in sari. Oh I just couldn't help myself. This bubbling feeling just took over, and I ran laughing out loud. It was so funny. Fortunately the crowd was so big that they didn't notice that laughing foreigner in between all the "scared mall customers".
A "normal" afternoon at the mall turned into something completely different. Hahahah- amazing moment.
So, what makes you laugh? Please share.
1-30 April 2015 I participate in the A to Z blogger challenge, and this post is written as a part of that challenge.My theme for the challenge is Happiness. I hope you enjoy coming along.
Somewhere there's a Bollywood movie where on the DVD commentary the director is complaining about that weird woman laughing in the background while everyone else is screaming.
ReplyDeleteHahahahah :-.) Thanks for visiting:-)
DeleteOh, that's too funny a story Eli. Thanks for sharing! ;) Laughter is my theme for the L word today too with exactly the same question (though I had removed the 'So'). ;) Spontaneous things make me laugh rather than forced moments: kids and pets in particular. <3
ReplyDeleteThanks Elly, and thanks for sharing:-)
DeleteToday, during an Accounts lecture, I was laughing like an idiot. Why? Because I remembered some of the chats I had with my crush in the night. And it was so awkward.. Yet, it feels amazing to think about something that had happened in the past which still makes me smile..
ReplyDeleteFellow #AtoZChallenge blogger,
Mithila @fabulus1710
http://www.fabulus1710.blogspot.in
Haha - thats great, thanks for sharing Mithila:-)
DeleteLaughter is the best medicine they say; and it also keeps us happy; I laugh at silly jokes and I try and take things easy in my life; and keep looking for funny situations to laugh loud. I love to see my daughter laughing, so I will make faces, do mimicry, imitate a hero or a joker and make her laugh... I also watch a lot of comedy shows, its very de-stressing for me after I come back from work. I encourage my family also to join... I don't like to watch serious films, serial or anything that brings stress to us.. thanks for sharing...
ReplyDeleteThat sounds awesome Genevive- and so true- laughter is the best medicine. Happy to see you here, and thanks for visiting:-)
DeleteI am pretty sure I would have been laughing too. Like you, I tend to see the humor in most things and while this is usually a good thing, at other times it is completely inappropriate. I have been know to say to my teens, "what ever you do, don't let mummy laugh."
ReplyDeleteHahah - can relate to that. Thanks Rhonda:-)
DeleteOh how cool to be in a Bollywood movie. Sometimes the giggles just take over. Nice one. Laughter is a good one for the letter L.
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot dear Suzy:-)
DeleteHehe :D I wonder how their reactions would have been if they had zoomed on you and saw your face, laughing like that :D
ReplyDeleteLike It Happened Yesterdy
Hahah - imagine. Thanks for visiting Swathi:-)
DeleteRobin Williams is who I thought about when I read this line * Laughter and being happy - quite connected, right?. I can laugh at most things and like you many a times when I shouldn't :P The giggle attack is a real thing I tell you. :P
ReplyDelete*Shantala @ ShanayaTales*
Haha - yes, know those giggle attacks... Thanks for sharing:-)
DeleteHa ha! That must have been funny! :)
ReplyDeleteAnd you are so right about the facade - so much hidden behind that laughter. Great post!
Thank you so much Parul:-)
DeleteWhich was that movie? I want to see that laughing scared customer :P
ReplyDeleteHahah - more of a b film, not a blockbuster anyway, something with bhai..., Our moment went by in a blink of the eye.
DeleteWow! You were a part of a bollywood movie!! Which one is that! Do share. We'd look for you laughing when others were acting scared :D
ReplyDeleteHahaha - not a big film Shilpa, but a funny experience:-)
DeleteThat is really cool! Maybe your open mouth was interpreted as a scream instead of a laugh! It's true what Robin Williams says in that poster. Also, it's true that people make jokes and laugh to mask their pain. It's also true that laughter is the best medicine. We're all missing the brilliance in Robin's comedy.
ReplyDeleteHahahah - to funny. Yes, laughter is the best medicine. Thanks for visiting and for sharing Mary:-)
DeleteDearest Eli,
ReplyDeleteOh my, you sure had all the ingredients around you at that mall and I too would have burst out into an unstoppable laughter. It can be embarrassing at times but still, we cannot help it when the laughter is ignited so easily. It sure is a blessing and the very best medicine in life. Laughter and humor we need a large dose of as it cures a lot.
Hugs to you,
Mariette
Thank you dear Mariette, yes, that is true, the best medicine. Warm hugs back to you:-)
Deletefunny thing about laughter… it can be the first response to such a wide range of encounters/experiences… we laugh in delight and we laugh in surprise but we can laugh when things are so bad that laughter serves as a release.
ReplyDeletegreat movie story… were you able to see the finished film (which seeing yourself in the scene as you describe it, would surely be fun)
That is true. Yes, we saw ourselves, but just for a moment! Funny to be part of though. Thank you so much for visiting and for sharing:-)
DeleteLoved the story of your mall experience and I can just picture it, Eli! ☺
ReplyDeleteRobin Williams was one of my favourite comedians. His stand up monologues always left me with tears of laughter and I was shocked to read of his suicide. One never knows what other people are dealing with!