In Need of a Laugh (Even at My Own Expense)

by Angela Sanford

Lately, I've really needed a good belly laugh—but unfortunately, this hasn’t come easily. Well, except for one that is ...one, at my own expense. Actually, this story also reminded me of another moment when everyone around me got a great laugh—also at my expense.

   Fair warning: while these stories are funny, they may fall into the category of TMI—too much information, so only read on if you dare.

   Recently, I had a formal event to attend, which I had to squeeze into an already chaotic weekend. In a rush to get ready, I hopped in the shower and grabbed a pair of underwear from the clean laundry basket that hadn’t yet been folded and put away. Right away, something felt off. They didn’t fit the way I expected. I twisted and tugged, trying to make them sit right, but finally gave up and thought, “I don’t have time for this—I’ve got to get dressed and go!”

   So, I threw on the rest of my clothes, gave my hair a quick once-over, put on my shoes and jacket, and headed out the door along with everyone else.

   The whole drive there, I couldn’t shake the discomfort. I kept thinking, “I know I haven’t been eating great the past couple of weeks, but surely, I haven’t gained that much weight. I just wore these last week! And there’s no way they’ve shrunk.” But there wasn’t much I could do at that point.

   As the event began, I made a trip to the washroom. Even as I adjusted my underwear again, I didn’t clue in—just kept thinking how uncomfortable they were. It wasn’t until my second trip to the bathroom, midway through the evening, that I finally realized... I had them on backwards! The instant I fixed them, I felt immediate relief—followed by a wave of embarrassment that I hadn’t noticed it sooner. 

   Could I chalk this up to being in a hurry, being stubborn, or whatever “moment” it might have been?  Whichever it may be it, this little mishap naturally reminded me of another unforgettable moment—at a friend’s mother’s funeral more than ten years ago.

Our entire staff had planned to attend the service for the late Ruth Main—a respected woman in the community who had even taught a few of us, myself included. As the funeral ended and we exited the church in Noel, I found myself at the tail end of our little staff group.

   Just as I stepped out the front door and onto the steps, an all too familiar gust of wind came sweeping up from the bay—and lifted my dress right over my head!

   I won’t name who was directly behind me, but let’s just say I definitely didn’t turn around to see their reaction. I grabbed the dress and yanked it down as fast as I could, then made a beeline for the car, laughing so hard the rest of the staff thought I’d lost my mind. Just like in that famous IKEA commercial, I shouted, “Get in the car—just get in the car!”

   Once I was safely in the backseat, the others turned to me, all wide-eyed and curious. When I finally told them what had happened, we laughed until we cried. I’m pretty sure we sat there for five solid minutes, howling with laughter over my unexpected “cheeky” moment. 

   This moment, though, taught me one well deserved lesson – never wear a flowing dress without shorts on underneath!