The weather predicted storms that day as my family and I climbed into my brother-in-law’s boat from the dock on the shore of Lake Wissota. The sky was blue and the breeze was gentle, which was enough to lure us onto the water for some tubing and skiing despite the forecast.
After an hour or so of fun, we motored the boat next to others on
the sandy shore of an island and pulled out the grill to make BLT sandwiches
for lunch. Just as each of us climbed out, (four adults and two young children)
someone spotted a very definite funnel cloud restlessly bobbing up and down
directly above us. We made the frantic decision to jump back into the boat and
head a short way to land, realizing that a small island is not a safe place to
be during a tornado.
The sirens sounded and other people on the island began pointing
at the sky. I was struck with terror as my husband lifted my two young boys
back into the boat. As I turned to get into the boat myself, I realized the
boat was resting in the sand rather than in the water and much too high for me
to jump back in. I began giggling, and I could NOT. STOP!
"What is your problem?!" my brother-in-law demanded. My
mind and my limbs suddenly were not my own. I knew that we
desperately needed to leave so that we could get to safety. My little guys,
three and eight years old, stared at me in confusion as they read the urgent cues
of the other adults, and recognized mom’s didn’t match. I felt embarrassed. I
felt helpless. I felt like others on the shore were staring, but I just kept
giggling. Finally, my husband essentially grabbed me and hauled me into the
boat and my brother-in-law gunned it back to land.
While I can’t explain it, I guess it is a thing. It is helpful
to know I’m not the only one.
https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/69830/why-do-we-laugh-when-were-scared
There are various thoughts scientists have about the causes of
laughter when we’re scared. One of those, which seems appropriate in my case,
is the idea that laughing could be the result of feeling that we may be
overwhelmed by our emotions in a particular situation. Thankfully, this
incredibly bizarre response hasn’t happened a second time, and my
level-headedness remains.
It's a humorous story now, and I won’t ever forget that day. Realistically
though, even if it did slip from my memory my family won’t ever let it die…’
the day mom couldn’t get a grip’.
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