Seriously, some folks take themselves too seriously. Do you know anyone like this? These are the folks who bring down the overall adult laugh average both by their lack of laughter and their inability to inspire laughter in others. You have to be able to laugh at life and yourself or you will go mad (or become a major downer to those around you- either way, not a good outcome).

I remember a day a number of years ago when I got up early to catch some door-buster Christmas sales and got the impression that a lot of the men in the store were looking at me – actually, more like staring at me. After I started to notice this phenomenon I started to think, “Man, I must be looking hotter than I thought today.”   I really had not paid that much attention to myself that morning as I was in such a hurry to get out the door so that I could be the first to snag those early-bird deals. I will say that upon noticing that I was being noticed I stood a little taller and smiled a bit more.

I was buoyant by the time I got all my fabulous buys in the car – a great day of shopping and I looked good enough to be stared at to boot. Then I got in the car and looked in my rearview mirror and realized that I had a glob of toothpaste just above my upper lip. Yep- you heard me right, not a dot or a speck – a glob.

Lovely…horrifying…typical…classic. But what can you do – you simply must laugh. There I was thinking I was all that and indeed I was – in a way – in a freak show way.

Of course I had to then call my daughter Sarah and tell her all about the experience because having removed the toothpaste glob and left the store it was becoming increasingly funny…and I do crack myself up even when it is just because I am such a giant goober.

I surmise it helps that my role in life has never been the glamour girl. I have always been the funny one (and at times just plain funny-looking) and I have embraced that. You have to go with what works…remember I am a Skipper not a Barbie.

Here I am with my dear friend Rosie in the mid-nineties at one of our sign language variety shows for the Deaf. Yes, take a minute to soak in my loveliness….it’s okay I can wait until you absorb it all. No really, take your time.

In this skit I was the blind-date of a very handsome bachelor and the poor guy didn’t know what hit him. The skit was played out to the song – “Unforgettable”. It was a huge hit in the show because when it comes to playing a geek – what can I say – I am gifted. If given the option I will always go for the laugh – I cannot help myself…that comes with my ability to not take myself too seriously. What you can’t see in this photo was the toilet paper on my shoe and shlumpa-dinka posture…if one is going to be truly “unforgettable” these items are required.

So, I recognize that even without trying I am often “unforgettable” for all the most embarrassing reasons, but I don’t spend too much time worrying about it. If I took all my embarrassing moments and missteps seriously I would have signed myself up for the white coat with the straps long ago. Sometimes you go out unknowingly with a glob of toothpaste on your upper lip – it happens and guess what…life goes on.

Day twenty-two of the new forty – obla di obla da

CC