laughing babies

One of the things that has made this babyfizing so draining for us is that it hasn't really allowed us a moment's rest to relax, settle down and process the experience. Don't get me wrong - it's kickdonkey awesomepants - it's just fairly tense, all the time.

Last night, however, I took the chance to focus on someone else. A friend of mine has just found out he has cancer, and since the people of our church were kind enough to bring us so much food our refrigerator began to buckle outwards, I figured I'd pop in and drop off one of our extra boxes of mandarin oranges. My friend is a bit of a stoic - not one to dwell on his own "little troubles" - so I figured the oranges would be a good excuse to go by and let him know my wife and I care.

When I arrived, I discovered that he and his wife had just finished dinner and were sitting down at a game of bridge with some delightfully British friends. We chatted a bit, and then I took the chance offered by a break in conversation to mention that Anya and I were very sorry to hear about his test results. A slightly awkward silence followed, and I figured I'd created a bit of a strained situation, what with his guests and all.

I was about to say something more when he replied, "Actually, my testicles are fine - it's my, hem, prostate that has the problem. Another, much more awkward silence ensued. "Umm", I said, "I actually just was saying that I was sorry to hear about your test results".

That shattered the quiet, broke the dam, and exploded the five of us into tear-jerking laughter that went on and on, re-catalyzing every time anyone tried to say anything. His wife was pointing at him, shaking with laughter. The Brits' heads were thrown back and bobbying. The jollity went on and on. Finally, I was able to get a word in edgewise, "I'm usually pretty oblivious to social convention", I said, "but I hardly think I'm the sort of guy who tries to start after dinner conversations about the state of a friend's testicles". And off we were again.

Needless to say, I'm feeling a lot better. And if laughter is any sort of medicine, my friend should be well-emboldened for a good hard fight.