We were on a busy train on the way to some airport. Trish was reading, I was blissfully listening to my favorite band, wearing my amazingly effective noise-cancelling headphones.

The train stopped to pick up more passengers and one of the new arrivals decided to put his roll-aboard suitcase on a shelf above the seats. It seemed instantly obvious that the bag was way too big, but he decides maybe he needs to turn it the other way.

I turn to Trish, “Check out this guy. He thinks the laws of physics don’t apply to him.”

The look on her face and waving of her hands for me to stop talking suggests that perhaps my noise-cancelling headphones are a bit too effective. Apparently it sounded more like, “CHECK OUT THIS GUY! HE THINKS THE LAWS OF PHYSICS DON’T APPLY TO HIM!”

I was a bit embarrassed, but the look on her face and how hard we laugh every time we recall the story was worth it. Embarrassment is temporary, funny stories last a lifetime.

When has an embarrassing moment of yours led to joy?