Boy, this one I share with you. My sainted mother bequeathed me with a huge, body-shaking, house-tumbling laugh, for which I am completely unapologetic. That laugh use to confuse my Aunt Mary when I called, for she thought it was my Mother. I LOVE my laugh, and I am delighted that Mom left me that legacy. I have run into some similar responses, which may or may not be because we are female, Rebecca. Women in so many cultures are expected to take up less space, and a big inclusive laugh has the same effect- but far more positive and joyful- as cigar smoke. It stakes our claim on the air in the room. In our case, we fill it with the joy of being alive.

For my part, and again I do not carry the additional burden of being Black and therefore how dare I, my laugh has even cost me lovers. One German man got so disgusted with my loud laugh that he insulted me about it in front of a boat full of others. How dare I take up so much space, including his own, with so much hilarity?

It speaks to the smallness of others that they cannot allow people to laugh long, hard and loudly, for it's as beautiful an expression as birdsong.

Loud cackling, indeed. Rebecca. Such people are poor in spirit and soul. We need more guffaws. Here's to earth-shaking, bring-the-house-down laughter. I'm with you.