Laughing at something that’s not funny

This week’s Mediahuis Irish regional newspapers’ column.

Michael Commane

In recent days on two occasions I have heard people tell stories about being at funerals where so many funny stories were told and how people were laughing and joking.

It sounds like some sort of indecent oxymoron but it has often struck me how we can laugh in the midst of really sad and upsetting circumstances. It seems to be part of the human condition, something to do with our resilience. We have extraordinary powers of coping with adverse conditions.

Last week I was told a story and instead of expressing concern and upset I found myself laughing all during the telling.

I was warned by the person, who told it, that I was never again to mention it and certainly not to write about it. But she changed her mind and gave me permission to let the cat out of the bag.

Although it was an annoying experience it’s important to say I did spot a glint of humour in the person telling the story.

Anne, (names are changed) decided she and her husband James, would take a night off and travel to Valentia Island. Neither of them had ever been there before.

They booked in at their nice hotel. Everything was running to plan and most smoothly until they discovered the next morning that they had locked the car leaving not just one key in the car but the spare one as well. It was Anne’s fault. May I assure you had it been her husband’s doing it would have been a different story. James is relaxed and laidback.

The car, the key, are all modern technology. There was no question of using coat hanger technology to retrieve the key. And not even breaking a window would help. Seemingly that would send out all sorts of signals that would alert emergency services, gardaí, army commanders, everyone.

And it was Sunday, the local garage was closed, and even if it were open they would have to put up their hands in defeat and admit they could not help.

Eventually and after much panic, stern words, phone calls, a few swear words too, experts in Killarney were contacted. A tow truck would have to come to pick up the car and bring it to the technologically endowed locksmith expert in Killarney, who would have all the skill and competency to gain entry to the car.

But there was a problem; would there be enough room for the driver of the tow truck to manoeuvre  her or his vehicle so that the locked car could be loaded on to the low loader. Measurements were taken. Yes, that could be accomplished.

Eureka. The car was taken to Killarney. But in the meantime the couple had to get back home to their children and then report for work on Monday morning. It meant long taxi drives in all directions.

The couple eventually arrived home and reported for work on Monday morning.  The hotel where they stayed in Valentia Island went that extra proverbial mile for them.

All during the telling of the story I found myself enthralled in laughter.

 

There I was, laughing at the expense of the woes of two people. But it was so funny. Or was it?