my grandmother had a serious gas br problem. br we only saw her on Sunday. br she'd sit down to dinner br and she'd have gas. br she was very heavy, br 80 years old. br wore this large glass brooch, br that's what you noticed most br in addition to the gas. br she'd let it go just as food was being served. br she'd let it go in bursts br spaced about a minute apart. br she'd let it go br 4 or 5 times br as we reached for the potatoes br poured the gravy br cut into the meat. br br nobody ever said anything, br especially me. br I was 6 years old. br only my grandmother spoke. br after 4 or 5 blasts br she would say in an offhand way, br 'I'll bury you all!' br br I didn't much like that: br first farting br then saying that. br br it happened every Sunday. br she was my father's mother. br br every Sunday it was death and gas br and mashed potatoes and gravy br and that big glass brooch.