What makes falls so funny? The shear surprise to both the victim and their witnesses? The uncertainty of what caused the fall? The embarrassment that the fall-ie will surely experience in the following minutes? It really doesn't matter, but I challenge you to find me a human that does not love the sight of another person unexpectedly tumbling to the earth.
On top of that, the sick and demented reality of falls is the sheer lack of compassion expressed by those watching. Admit it, your first instinct is to laugh even if the fall-in-question has caused bodily harm. Right? If you answered 'No', you are a liar and I suggest you stop reading and throw yourself in one of those giant puddles that are now forming in the March thaw as pennance.
To make matters worse, the fall could be happening to anyone you know and it is always equally funny! Your best friend. One of your kids. Even Grandma. Sure, we all do the fake "OH NO, ARE YOU OK?" and then run to the person's aid. But, assuming no real damage has been done....bring on the chuckles!
May sound a bit cold (and I am admittedly one of the clumsiest goofs you will ever meet) but allow me to relay a true story that remimded me of the comic genius of stumbles...
Very recently I was in attendance of a formal function (no, not the prom!) and witnessed a fabulous fall! I was casually standing around, sipping a cocktail and enjoying the atmosphere. I noticed a rather large, (and later I learned, inebriated!) woman approaching with heals as high as the Himalayas. I noticed she looked a little wabbly and her friend was arm-in-arm with her. As she closed to about 3 feet of where I was standing....BANG! Down she goes, right in front of me. Given my prim-and-proper surroundings, I did not belt out in a belly laugh (not yet anyway), but I did, however, freeze up. This befallen, buxom beauty was 36 inches from me on the ground flailing like a Galapagos Turle that was tipped on its shell and I just stared. With her friend's assistance, she quickly rose back up on those mountain high Monolos and limped her way through the crowd. Embarrased? Yes. But, seemingly, OK.
And what do I do, being the mature, sophisticant? RACE to my closest acquaintance and share the shame! It was like I was the Village Idiot running through town spreading the good news of our Lord Jesus Christ!
And you know what? I am fine with that because, as I said in the beginning, FALLS= FUNNY.
Everytime.
Got a funny fall story - I would love to hear it!
