Random column :)

Years ago, my mom told a stranger at a dinner party that her daughter lived in a condom.
She meant to say "condo," but she didn't, nor did she correct herself. This must have given the party guest a few giggles later on.
Even better, it's given our family yet another wacky memory to cherish. We're big on laughing at ourselves, which makes me think we were just born with that particular gene. (Well, the women were, at least; I can't think of a time my brothers or dad has ever walked into a room and said, "You will not believe what I just did.")
I'm not saying that I never get humiliated by my own actions, but that usually happens when the foible is minor. Those, I keep to myself. But the spectacular mistakes – the kind that I first hope nobody finds out about – those I can see the humor in. As they say, go big or go home.
One morning when we were kids, my mom took us to school in a truck that had a camper on the back. Driving toward the school's entrance, she failed to grasp that the camper was too tall to fit under the awning. Plop! The whole thing fell off the back.
My mom – who was wearing her pajamas – drove away in embarrassment, leaving the camper where she dropped it. And where it blocked all other cars from the driveway.
A few hours later, she got a call from her friend, whose daughter went to the same school.
"You won't believe what some STUPID PERSON did," she said.
My mom, in classic Lucy fashion, let out a wail and said, "It was me!"
Of course, she probably didn't immediately see the humor in this story; it probably had to gel for a day or two. Other times, it's instant. Several years ago, my mom and sister came out to visit me in Seattle. Finding ourselves in a posh neighborhood with an open house, we decided to go check it out.
At the door was a basket full of elastic booties. The realtor had put a sign up, asking everyone to please use them when they toured the home.
"I can't believe we have to wear these," said my mom as she began to put the bootie on her head.
It took everything I had not to pee in my pants. Imagine the look on the realtor's face if she'd come around the corner to see us in hairnets.
Of course, I've come to realize that the Lucy apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Last month, I went to a bridal shower at a friend's house in Austin. As I stood around chatting with a few people I barely know, one of them looked at the homeowner, Tom, and said, "So, I hear you're now commuting."
Me (thinking he said, "So, I hear you're now a comedian"): "Wow! That's so interesting!!!"
(Puzzled glances from the other partygoers)
Tom: "Yeah, so far it's going fine. I've been flying out to California twice a month." (Or something like that -- I was too caught up in the excitement of his comedy career to pay attention.)
Me: "That is so cool!"
Tom: "Uh, yeah. Last week I took a drive down the Pacific Coast Highway, which was really nice."
Me: "Tell us some jokes!!!"
Tom (looking at me with fear in his eyes): "Well, the cost of living out there is incredible. We wouldn't be able to afford a shack in that area." (Again, I was barely listening. Too busy waiting for the punch line.)
Me (finally realizing that perhaps he's not on the standup circuit): "Did you say you're a comedian?"
Other guest: "No, I asked if he was COMMUTING!"
We all laughed, but I detected an expression of pity from a couple of the partygoers. Not that this bothered me; I come from a long line of crazy women who can easily tolerate such looks.
On the way home from the shower, I picked up the phone, called my mom and said, "You're not going to believe what I just did." Because sharing my silliness with her is always the best part.