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I think Jack Handy said it best: “Dad always thought laughter was the best medicine, which I guess is why several of us died of tuberculosis.” It is very clear to me that laughter is not always the best form of medicine, as evidenced by this week’s lesson.

Lesson 6: Don’t laugh when you see your wife’s new haircut.

My wife recently went to get her hair cut. I think she was trying to make it a surprise so she could then get mad at me for not noticing. Luckily I found out she was going to be gone for a few hours and she had to admit that it was because she was going to get her hair cut.

Later that evening I came home and called to ask her to come out and help me bring a bunch of stuff in from the car. A few minutes later I saw this lady walking toward the car. For a split second I thought, “Who is this coming toward me?” I realized that it was my wife. She had cut at least 7 inches off, cut bangs, straightened it, and got highlights. She looked so different that my only response was to laugh. She opened the door and said, “What’s so funny?” I could only get out, “Your hair!”

I continued to chuckle sporadically as we walked inside and then again for another 5-10 minutes while we were inside. She became quite perturbed and said, “Laughing isn’t really an appropriate response for a haircut.” I then started digging a hole that would eventually require a harness and rope to get out of. I said, “Listen, I think I like it, but I am not quite sure yet.” After a little more laughter–and a little more getting scolded–I said, “I think it makes you look younger, but at the same time older. But the strange thing is, you look skinnier, but it also seems like your stomach is sticking out more.”

I knew that last comment was a mistake and tried to recover by saying, “Well, that could just be the shirt you’re wearing; it looks a little small.” The fumes were beginning to pour out while my mouth kept going. “You actually kind of look like you’re wearing a wig,” I said trying to fill in the hole. I am not sure what I thought that would accomplish, but I went for it. The anger level was now at a 7 and I didn’t know what to do. So I continued to laugh hoping she would start laughing. Unfortunately that time never came and I had to issue an apology for the next 20 minutes.

I really didn’t try to hurt her feelings. I honestly laughed out of surprise and then thought I could continue laughing to make the situation better. I actually like her hair, but she’s insisting that I could have expressed it better than I did with the laughing, the stomach comment and the wig comment.

My suggestion: When in doubt, don’t laugh, unless it is at yourself. And even then, I suggest thinking of another alternative. And stop talking when you have no clue what you are saying.