Last night I freaked out my 2-year-old niece with one of my loud laughs. I felt awful for scaring her, but Erin’s explanation of my voice volume immediately made me feel better.
Mood music:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jr0Boagp4Xo&fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0]
“Uncle Bill has a big laugh because he has a big love,” she told Madison.
Since I used to walk around with a big hate, the description makes me feel like I’ve made some progress.
Of course, I’ve always had a loud laugh. It’s also true that many of the stereotypical bad guys in the movies have a loud laugh. The emperor from the Star Wars movies comes to mind.
An editor named Bill Ketter used to have an ear-shattering laugh, and not many people in The Eagle-Tribune newsroom liked him very much at the time (my attitude toward him has softened with time). 
I guess to Madison’s little ears mine is a sinister laugh.
But she’ll get over it.
And in the end Erin’s right: My loud laugh was the result of something my niece did.
And I do love the kid.