Comedy in the Second Person

There's a famous saying, "Tragedy is in the first person.  Comedy is in the second person."  That is to say that when something happens to me it is a tragedy, but when something happens to you it is comedy.  A friend of mine (with a degree in theatre) used to say "Anything truly tragic can also be truly funny."

Nothing truly tragic happened this week.  We're all fine.  Okay, I strained my back Shabbat morning, and it still hurts, but this is minor and will soon pass.  Meanwhile, I'm going to work.  I picked up the kids and took them to karate yesterday, and am presiding over the monthly RA meeting today.  Although sore, my life isn't really changed.  There are the normal ups and downs, a temper tantrum here and there, nonsense picking on each other (Have I mentioned we're solidly in the teen years?),  and probably less than the normal family drama we should.

Still, some weeks are tough.  Last Thursday (or was it Wednesday?  It's become a blur) our microwave decided not to work.  We purchase this microwave in June, so it came as quite a surprise.  Of course the labor warranty expired just a week or so prior, plus we'd have to pay shipping and insurance if we want  it fixed.  That's almost 1/2 the cost of the microwave new before we add in the labor.  It's simply crazy. So for now we are simply living without.  Sean complains daily.  On Friday the oven broke mid-challah.  The oven is decades old.  It has given its all for God and family.  On Tuesday the oven was fixed.  A wire burnt out.  A new oven would cost about $1000.  The fix- less than $200.  Given the age of the oven, we wanted to know if it was worth fixing.  The repairman said definitely.  These old appliances were made to last, and this oven could give us another decade.

As if that series of breakdowns (add in my back on Shabbat morning) wasn't comedic enough, Tuesday evening the spring that holds the dishwasher door broke.  SERIOUSLY?!  Luckily we can fix this ourselves.  I just started laughing.  There is no other possible reaction.

The fridge, washer, dryer, furnace, and hot water heater are all new within the last 4 years, and we just had a new roof put on.  Last winter it was raining in the coat closet.  Hopefully this is it for a while.

Smiles and laughter to all.