Why is it that everything is funny until it happens to you? It's the darndest thing. There you are, having a wonderful day playing miniature golf with your little ones when suddenly, without a 'fore' warning, you are the recipient of a ball in the crotch.

*pauses while men and women alike wince including the author herself*

Or you are walking around your custom built house that's in the framing stage, and you get a 2 by 4 in the forehead, or the back.

Or a friend decides to use quilt soap (Orvus) in the dishwasher. Boy, those dishes get clean, but you could film Attack of the SudsMonster in your kitchen! *hopes that DH NEVER thinks of using her Orvus in the dishwasher*

It's funny when you see it on America's Funniest Home Videos. In fact, in most cases, it's so hysterical you're spewing soda out your nose, or across your television screen... or both. It's not nearly as funny when you're on the ground in agony from these unexpected occurances.

Author's Note: No, none of the above things have happened to me, but I personally know people who have.

And then there are the times that you are with good friends, and something befalls them and you can't help but laugh. Last week I was walking across an aggregate parkway with a good friend. We had gone to pick up lunch at someplace we've gone hundreds of times before and were on our way back to her car to head back to the office. Suddenly, she stumbles. I caught her, laughing, because she never trips. Especially when she's wearing her 3 inch high wooden clogs. So this was a comical first. Even she thought it a little funny, until she put weight on her foot.

Thankfully, it's just a really bad sprain.

I guess it all goes back to the principle of "It's all fun and games until someone puts out an eye." One of A's school friends was hanging about the monkey bars yesterday having a great old time, laughing in the sun, and her hands just came away unexpectedly. She's got a broken wrist. It's not that she was doing anything unsafe. Or that her fall was funny. It was that she was in the act of having fun - something all kids engage in - and got hurt unexpectedly. Just like someone who is watching thier kids master miniature golf, or is enjoying watching thier dream home be framed up in front of thier eyes....

... or just trying to get a little extra sparkle out of thier dishes.