My Dysfunctional Humour Gland

Do you ever wish you had a time machine? Ever pray that you could back to the moment you had a really bad idea that you thought was pure genius and scream to your deluded past self... "For the love of all that's good don't do it!" OK I'm being dramatic but I'm assuming that unless your an extra terrestrial from a planet where your kind never 'fell', you can relate to this feeling. This week I would mostly like to do over April Fools Day...

I have funny days, they don't come terribly frequently but there are spaces in time where my mind works fast, my mouth delivers something just the way I intended to and this magical thing happens... people laugh. It's quite a rush. (My gorgeous husband knows all about this as it's a daily occurrence for him.)

Sadly this is not my status quo.

Often I'll do or say something that seems totally hysterical in my head and by the time it's out there, sounds waves in the atmosphere never to be retrieved, I realise it's lame, nonsensical, inappropriate or sometimes all of the above. April Fools Day was one of those moments...

I never normally remember this odd little occasion and often realise the afternoon of the 1st and kick myself for not being more on the ball. This year however I was on top of it. I decided the best ruses to catch people out are the plausible ones... hmm what would people believe... I know! The thing everyone assumes whenever I say I have news.

With a grin on my face I emailed Pete G, Andy F and Jon P (with whom I had a meeting later that day) and asked for an extra point on the agenda: how we're going to handle my maternity leave now that a new addition to the Harding family was on the way.

I thought they'd totally twig it was a joke so I tried to be as convincing as I could be... oh dear. After I pressed send I thought I better send another email saying Happy April Fool, just incase they didn't get it.

Sigh

I arrived in Guildford and no-one had read the second email. I felt like a total heal as I saw the delighted look on my friend's faces and learnt how a couple had already started praying for our unborn child. You can probably imagine how bad I felt to see their genuine disappointment as I explained what now seemed like a really cruel joke.

I have now decided that I suck at pranks shall hence forth abstain. My dysfunctional humour gland will have to remain sporadic and spontaneous because when I plan things I totally pitch it wrong... Oh well, at least my gaff was amusing for my dinner guests... xc

Comments

[sarah]

oh carla - i am so glad there is someone else out there that feels like the april fool rather than fooling others! i had almost finished the latest addition of the lg newsletter, when, i saw the date!! april 1st!!!! just like yourself i tend to miss the day and regret it most years. but not this. this year i remembered the day (ad regretted it!). si i switched out my little blurb of news and replaced it with what i thought at the time was a funny april fools moment - announcing the new living generously utopian state. hmmm. i hit send to our 8000+ mailing list. but strangly no-one signed up for the utopian state and i did receive a request to be removed from the mailing list.

oh dear.

Pete's long ignored pleas not to attempt humor in the newsletters is now officially observed. lol.

xx

[Carla]

Oh dear honey. I totally know what you mean. Why is it that some people could do exactly the same thing and the world would find it hysterical... *sigh* xc

[jonah]

For what it is worth and with the benefit of hindsight, I think it was a pretty funny prank.

But then your telling of the awkwardness in retrospect is even funnier than the prank. Almost like something out of "The Office". I wish I had been there with a camcorder to tape the whole thing.

You are brilliant!

[Gary Z]

Hi Carla,

Here's my two cents, from the perspective of one of your "older" friends. ;-) There is nothing wrong with your "funnybone" or your humor (humour?) gland. All of us who have read your writings know that for a fact. I see this as you simply having a "blind spot" in one particular area. I don't know Jon, but I know both Pete and Andy have beautiful children of their own, and they and their wives know the unique joy of being parents. I'm guessing that they have been quietly praying for a while now, that this joy would come to you and Steve. April Fool's or practical jokes usually depend on a "shock" (Is that your blue minivan that rolled out into the street and has traffic all backed up?). You were probably thinking that your "pregnancy" would cause shock, when in fact it caused much premature joy on behalf of people who love you and Steve.

But just remember this, they will probably be praying even harder now. God always has the "last laugh". Don't be surprised if................;-D

Love,
~Gary

[sheena]

Well I think it's quite funny...but I'm sure that's only because it wasn't me! ;-) When I do something similar I'll email you so you can laugh at my awkward moment and feel better.