The Laughter Came Afterby Lorraine BettencourtIn life, regret holds one's undying truths . . . time does not run in reverse mode. Unlike the TV remote, life cannot be rewound to relive a moment. It cannot be muted once your tongue delivers an embarrassing slip. Once something gets past your lips, it cannot be unheard. Wouldn't it be nice if we could access a rewind feature in our lives to relive certain moments? Every minute in our lives is automatically recorded without fail. Our pros as well as our cons', our sneers as well as our jeers.My late brother Robby once told me I reminded him of his two favorite women. Lucille Ball and Carol Burnett. Now, I understand that I could never receive a more gracious compliment; my only similarity with these two comic divas is the ability to make people laugh. These two incredible women have had their jokes written and rehearsed with immeasurable grace and skill. My funnies, on the other hand, were not planned or rehearsed. They were not written, thought out, or practiced. They just found their way into my life.Although most of the memories were painfully embarrassing at the time, laughter eventually followed. I could see its value once I got past the moments of dread and humiliation.Robby suggested that I compose a book with my many hilarious and embarrassing moments to share with people. There have been unnerving moments of dread and humiliation from my youth until now. I am ashamed to say some of those moments were influenced by marijuana or alcohol. I do not intend to bring light to these substances, for my life is vastly different now. With the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ as my pilot, those elements and lifestyle are completely gone. But as with all the memories of some situations, the laughter remains.So, I have decided to share my story. Robby is no longer with us, he died in his prime age of twenty-eight, but he remains in our hearts and our memories. I see him with every giggle I cause and when I say or do something stupid. I dedicate this book to Robby as well as my late husband Jack, my soulmate that had to endure the complicated embarrassing moments that followed my folly with our years together.Some of the names have been changed to protect the embarrassed.
