A smile starts on the lips, a grin spreads to the eyes, a chuckle comes from the belly; but a good laugh bursts forth from the soul, overflows, and bubbles all around.
~Carolyn Birmingham
My mother and I traveled to the beautiful city of San Francisco, a place that Mom had never been before. We decided to have lunch one day at the top of a hotel with a circular, revolving restaurant, giving one a 360-degree view of the city.
The restaurant was set up with two circles of diners. On the lower level, rectangular tables were arranged perpendicular to the windows. The upper level, which made up the inner circle, was a couple of steps up and contained smaller tables, mostly for parties of two. The tables were arranged so that both people sat next to each other facing out. It was at one of these tables that my mother and I were seated.
The day couldn’t have been more beautiful with a clear blue sky and fluffy white clouds. We felt we could see forever.
After a long, leisurely and delicious lunch, we got up to leave. As my mother was putting on her coat, she bumped up against the wall of mirrors on the one side of our table. Not realizing at first that it was her own reflection, she said, “Oh, excuse me!” Of course, we both started laughing. And, as a result, she didn’t notice the step down to the lower level, lost her balance and literally went “flying” across the long rectangular table at the bottom of the stairs, heading right for the windows.
If only there was a way to share the expressions on the faces of the young businessmen whose table she “flew” across! Their drinks spilling and salads flying, they were paralyzed with their forks mid-air!
At first, we were afraid she would go straight out the window, but she “stopped” about mid-table. Of course, everyone from everywhere came running to help her up.
Being the dutiful daughter that I am, once I knew she was okay, I walked away. I had to as I had started to laugh uncontrollably. Once she joined me, she did the same. And it continued not only the rest of the day, but for years every time we recalled the event.
~Helen A. Scieszka
