Mr. Stevens, my algebra teacher in the 7th grade, heard Davey Sargent laughing in the back of the classroom. He put down his chalk and told us there was too much laughter in the room and in the world. He said laughter was for people who thought: 1) it was funny when people slipped on banana peels, (Sadistic) 2) People who were surprised at something and reacted with a laugh (Ignorance). … and 3) I forget the third. I did not do well in Algebra, either. But I have held laughter in low regard for many years. Then I came to Tuscany. The people here laugh a lot – and I see no banana peels and I sense little ignorance. Early, every morning, I hear men laughing loudly as they finish their morning coffee at the Cafe across the Piazza. So loud you cannot sleep. The Street Sweeper, the Accountant, the Plumber, the Construction Worker, the Dental Lab Tech,…many, many men laughing at something, sometimes slapping each other on the back…I don’t know what the joke is because I am only at Level One with the language…but I understand laughter, and I know the men are having a good time of it as they go off to work. I loved living in NYC for thirty-three years; but I don’t remember me, or my pals, laughing as we went off to do our daily scrimmages. It’s not just the men, I hear women laughing, too. Generally, they are not as loud as the men; as it should be.
I do remember Mr. Stevens weeping at his desk while he graded one of my algebra homework papers. Come to think of it, I think there is too much weeping going on in this world, what with: 1) ICE prison camps (Sadistic) and 2) Epic Fury/Hormuz closings (Ignorance). Oh, I just remembered the third reason people laugh is over something Vulgar. Some people think dirty jokes and course rude comments are funny.
I do not know if they teach algebra anymore, maybe there is no need for it what with AI and all….if Mr. Stevens were around today, I think he might be happier in this land of laughter
