To Laugh...Or Not To Laugh...That Is The Question

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Do you ever get into those situations where you feel really bad about it, but you can't help but laugh?  Sometimes it makes you feel insensitive.  Sometimes it makes you feel juvenile.  Regardless, you don't necessarily feel good about laughing at the situation...in fact, I considered not even posting this blog entry for that reason...phew...but, here goes.

This occurred to David and myself on Saturday night.  We have season tickets to the Oklahoma City Philharmonic and decided to brave the first day of Spring's icy, cold snow storm to watch this month's performance.  First of all, that just doesn't sound right...but it did happen.  Nice, huh?

Anyway, this is a monthly event that we go to where we love to people watch.  You see people dressed to the nines...and those not.  It's always surprised me when people go to nice events like this and wear...sweats.  Yes, we saw someone wearing sweats last month.  No sweats this past Saturday, though we did see the normal number of furs.  Real ones.  Oh yes, and we saw a certain 80's look-alike...his full look complete with feathered hair and scarf.  It looked like he was ready to bust out Faith or Careless Whisper at any time.  That's not what we had a hard time not laughing at though...

Once show time arrives the first violinist comes out...the orchestra tunes...the musical conductor comes out, gives a little one-sided chit chat with the audience after the performance of the national anthem...then the orchestra begins playing.  All was going well; the performance was phenomenal...as usual.  Then, for the second piece there was some necessary staging that needed to take place to move the grand piano out onto the stage.  The guest performer, a pianist, was to perform with the rest of the orchestra.  Don't worry, no one fell nor were there any other mishaps onstage.  The sections of the orchestra that had to leave while the stage hands made these adjustments filtered back on stage.  Pianist and conductor emerge.  Everyone applauds.  Orchestra begins as does pianist...

::warning::  If you don't feel comfortable reading about something semi-gross and slightly off-color...stop reading this post now...don't say I didn't warn you.

Two chords of piano-playing in I heard a very...loud...unpleasant sound...from ten or so rows back...  Note that, like other auditorium-like centers, the Civic Center has plush chairs that are bolted to the floor.  I am initially startled...wait about five seconds...then looked at David who has his lips tightly pressed together.  I quietly whisper, "Did I just hear what I think I heard?"  He immediately looks away from me and starts quietly chuckling.  At this point I know I'm not crazy and smile a little myself.  OK, so I quietly laughed a little too...quietly. 

At intermission I asked David if that could have possibly been what we both considered it...he immediately chalked it up to someone scooting their chair...instead of flatulence.  Ummm, remember that the chairs are bolted to the floor?  Hmmm...I guess I should just be happy it wasn't the other season ticket holder that sits right next to me. 

I know laughing is good for you and all that, but there are times when it would behoove one to not...you all know what I'm talking about.  For example, when someone trips and falls or if you're in a professional business meeting and there is something funny about the speaker's appearance (use your imagination).  But, honestly, how do keep you from laughing?  Or at least smiling?  I simply try to not think of the "funny" and focus on the present matter at hand.  Such as, on Saturday night I then focused ON STAGE. 

On a side note, Saturday's performance was the best I felt we had seen in quite a while.  Well worth the trek out.

And yes, I felt juvenile after laughing at the start of the evening...just in case you were wondering.