miller|cathy

a baby boomer's second life

Where Fools Tread Lightly

March 28, 2013 By Cathy Miller 2 Comments

bigstock-joker-playing-card-with-red-an-25147610I’m not quite sure what it says about us that April Fools’ Day has been around for centuries.

Although we may not agree on the name itself – April Fools’, April’s Fools or All Fools’ Day, we do love our tradition.

And no person enjoyed the day more than my mother.

A Simple Approach

There are some who go to great lengths to pull off their April Fools’ Day hoax.

And there have been some whoppers.

  • Taco Bell’s famous ad claiming the business purchased the Liberty Bell
  • Burger King’s counter ad with the left-handed Whopper
  • National Public Radio’s ad announcing the Post Office would offer portable zip codes

But, my mom took a much simpler approach.

As my brothers and sisters and I stumbled out of bed in the morning, our eyes mere slits on our sleepy faces, Mom would ask us some mundane question.

Something like ~

What’s that on your pajamas?

We would look down, only to hear Mom erupt in maniacal laughter ~

April Fools’

  • It happened EVERY SINGLE APRIL FOOLS’
  • And we fell for it EVERY SINGLE APRIL FOOLS’

No one was spared from Mom’s persistent plotting – not my Dad, not any of her seven children.

Mom was the Master.

You would think that one year, at least, we would foil her Fools’ Day fun. But, no. Even if we remembered the day when we woke, we were no match for my Mom’s simple strategy.

  • Was it our blind trust?
  • A trust we thought our loving mother earned
  • Or were we mere mortals who were no match for the Master?

My Mom has since retired her Fools’ Day domination. And you can bet I’m not going to let her see this post.

I’m getting entirely too old to even have a prayer of seeing through her foolery.

April Fool, indeed.

=================

Live…Laugh…Love

BigStock Photo Credit

Filed Under: Miller Musings, On Everyday Life

Comments

  1. Lori says

    March 29, 2013 at 8:09 am

    I was lousy at it, but there was one year…

    I had gone to my mom’s for a cup of tea. My husband at that time had been through a vasectomy after the birth of our second kiddo. It was six months later. I walked in, tired because the baby had kept me awake. Mom said, “What’s wrong? You look awful.”

    I don’t know why, but I said, “I think I’m pregnant.”

    She stopped, and said, “But how? Isn’t he…?”

    Again, I’ve no idea what came over me. I replied “Maybe because it’s not his…”

    I had to tell her instantly. She looked like she was about to have a coronary!

    Reply
    • Cathy says

      March 29, 2013 at 9:33 am

      OMG, hysterical, Lori. The Shoulder Satan took over your mouth that day. 😉

      BTW, glad to hear your mom survived. 🙂

      Reply

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