By Judy Berman
Sometimes, any sliver of humor is fair game.
In a hardscrabble world, here’s a few who had a laugh in spite of being given a difficult time.
* A defense attorney I knew was assigned to a real tough character. His client had been convicted of murder, and his next stop was a federal drug trial.
I asked the attorney if I could talk to him about his client.
“Oh, I have to be careful what I say. He’s already sent me two letters in one envelope. One implied my mother and father weren’t married,” he laughed, dismissing the crude implications.
His client surprised everyone by pleading guilty at the start of the trial.
* Waiting on tables often has its own headaches. One such incident involved my Mom when she worked in a coffee shop at a Las Vegas casino.
A particularly ornery customer complained loudly about the service. She demanded that someone carry her tray to her table when she was capable of doing the same herself.
My Mom, who was in her 70s, could be a real pistol at times. She sweetly announced that she’d take the tray to the customer’s table. Then Mom proceeded to limp, lurching awkwardly toward the table. (I wish I could have been there. I’d have been rolling.)
* Speaking of restaurants, this is often where my family members and I torment each other – all in good fun, of course.
As I leave one restaurant, I dip into the candy bowl to take a few mints.
My son-in-law, Keith, pretending he doesn’t know me, says loudly: “Lady. Save some candies for other people.”
I slink out the door, laughing. But, payback is a bear, even if it does take me years to get even.
Recently, when celebrating our eldest daughter Danielle’s birthday at a restaurant, my jam came on. I started dancing out the door. I’m betting that same son-in-law was praying that no one he knew was there.
At another eatery, my youngest daughter, Jenn, noticed a black cloud in the huge fish tank. I told her: “I’ve got two words: fish flatulence.”
She lost it. Those words still make her laugh today.
* Sure, you’re overworked. But a little laughter lightens the load.
When I was working as a reporter, my editor sent me an e-mail wondering when he was going to see my story so he could edit it.
“I don’t see you typing.”
Me: “That’s because I’m weak from hunger. It’s been 15 minutes since my last six-course meal.”
Editor: “You can eat on the way home.”
Well, it’s that kind of compassion and warped humor that keeps me from losing my sanity.
It’s times like these that I can appreciate the Dover Police Department’s video cam that shows an officer lip synching Taylor Swift’s “Shake It Off.” (It was staged. But, so what?It’s great fun.)
Taking a skewered look at life is sometimes the best way to get thru to the other side of the rainbow.
Do you have a humorous story to share?
Video: Dover Police Officer lip-synching Taylor Swift’s “Shake It Off” – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XFBUM8dMqw
Video: K C and the Sunshine Band’s “Shake Your Booty” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obTlQRtjWzw
Main Photo: shake it off – Golden Retriever shaking off water – Photo taken by Googie man on June 2, 2008 http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/75/Shake_Dog_Shake.jpg/622px-Shake_Dog_Shake.jpg
Photo: minion https://thisandthatforkids.files.wordpress.com/2013/09/dm2_minion_dave_020.jpg
Photo: Happy otter – California sea otter bathing at Moss Landing, Calif. Photo taken by Sstasi on Sept. 23, 2007. http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5f/Happy_otter.jpg/640px-Happy_otter.jpg
