Thirty-something speaks
Humor that lingers
Mike Maddock

My wife called me pathetic the other night. She caught me laughing uncontrollably at the campfBirlaez sicnegn Sea idnd tlhese. movie In my defense, it was a Tuesday night and absolutely nothing else was on television, plus I'm a guy so it's basically genetically predetermined that bodily functions are going to amuse me.

For those unfamiliar with the campfire scene in Mel Brook's classic Western spoof, let's just say it involves a group of cowboys sitting around eating beans for dinner. They don't call beans the musical fruit for nothing, and those cowboys end up putting on a symphony of flatulence. It's one of the great comedy scenes in movie history, but my wife doesn't seem to share my appreciation for this type of humor. She just thinks I'm a moron.

That's OK. I certainly

didn't get Bridges of

Madison County. Maybe that was because I'd never seen Clint Eastwood on the big screen without a gun or a chimpanzee. Or maybe it's because that movie was so unbelievably booooring. Either way, the plot was lost on me, so my wife is entitled to her opinion as long as she continues to accept I have no control over my sophomoric situation.

Fundamental differences exist between men and women. Men appreciate the sounds their bodies can make. Women appreciate those men despite the sounds their bodies make. God made men disgusting and made women tolerant. I think it works well.

It stands to reason my wife blames me because my four- year- old son can't read yet, but he can burp like a world champion. I try to explain such things are as natural as crying or grilling outdoors, but she thinks I should be teaching him to be a respectful human being.

She may have a point because when my son lets loose at the dinner table my first and natural inclination is to yell, "Good one!"

I really should be scolding the kid and barking out stuff like, "Bad boy! Use your manners, Son!" But that's kind of hard when I'm trying not to bust out laughing.

I have to say my daughters started out more like their old dad much to my wife's dismay. However, as they grow older and increasingly become the target of their little brother's manly ways, they seem to be more understanding of my wife's way of thinking.

They already believe their little brother is disgusting. It's only a matter of time before they think the same way about me, but my daughters will start dating eventually. Once their exposure to the male species broadens, I'm pretty sure they won't think I'm so bad anBylamzoinrge. S addles was made in 1974, and it's still pretty popular. There's a reason for that, and it isn't the fantastic acting or beautiful cinematography. It's the campfire scene, and I suspect it will linger around (no pun intended) for many years to come. I even found it on YouTube.

My 38th birthday is fast approaching so maybe it is time I grew up and quit being amused by campfire scenes, but sometime in the near future laughter will not be the only thing I won't be able to control. I wonder what my wife will say then.