I like the way smiles and laughs just happen. Usually  when a smile starts, laughter is coming right behind it.  An  example of that is when we opened a carton of Blue Bunny brand ice cream a few months ago.  Much to our delight, we found a “Happy  Face”.   The kids and I just cracked up.  Allison said we needed a picture, that the bunny had sent us a smile.

Smiles can turn up at times when we are grouchy as a bear and have the growls to prove it.  God can send us smiles when we least expect it.  So can those people we happen upon that are doing something so dumb that it defies logic.  I swear I do try and not crack up and laugh right there where they are.   After all, I have done some stupid funny things in my time, so I do understand.  One of the best laughs that I got to have involved two rather chuffy girls swinging on a porch swing.  It was at a birthday party and although it happened twenty years ago, I am wiping tears out of my eyes, just laughing at the recalling of what happened.  True story, honest, as there are still others we know who were there too.  Names in this story have been changed but we know who we are.

We had been invited to a BBQ at a friend’s home to celebrate the birthday of their son, Ed, who was close to our age.   We all were ready to eat some great food. drink a little beer and have a good time.  Since I don’t like beer, I was drinking my favorite cola and talking with “Bob”, Ed’s Dad and chief cook.  He was sharing an “old days” story with me.  His English accent, combined with a set of twinkling eyes made listening to him a delight.  It was a lovely day.  People were happily chatting and milling about, snacking on chips and asking Bob and me when the dogs and burgers would be ready.  Things looked and sounded like a normal happy party time.  Maybe that should have been a hint something was bound to happen.

I turned towards the group talking to the two girls swinging on the swing.  I remember thinking that swinging that fast on the swing might not be a good idea when I saw and heard the crash.  That swing had given its all and it just dropped to the deck, the eye hooks bent straight.  Everyone was in shock and Ed’s Moma was yelling “Ed, do something!”   One of the girls said “Wow, I think I need to go on a diet.”  Ed lost it.  He was laughing so hard that he was helpless.  Neither of the girls were hurt, just embarrassed.  I turned back to the grill and Bob was laughing but trying not to show it.  I was okay until a guy who was a carpenter there said, “Man, I ain’t never seen eye hooks bent that straight before.”  That did it!  People who had been trying not to laugh hung it up.  By this time, Bob is laughing and tears are running down his cheeks.  He couldn’t see through his glasses so he handed me the tongs.  I told him to go and sit down but he said if he turned around looked, he would split a rib.  I have to say it was one of the funniest things I have seen and may I add that there was no cussing and fussing.  Just a funny memory that lingers now from that time long ago.

Our dear friend, “Bob”  has recently passed away.  A gentle sweet man, a member of the Greatest Generation, who fought to defend and protect our freedom in WWII.   The family church was filled to overflowing, as those who loved and called him friend, came to pay their respects.  For me, I will always remember that Mark and I were blessed to know this dear family for so many years.  I will always smile when I remember that warm summer’s day twenty plus years ago when, thanks to an overloaded swing, we two laughed until tears ran down our cheeks.