When I arrived for my daughter’s parent-teacher conference, the teacher seemed a bit flustered, especially when she started telling me that my little girl didn’t always pay attention in class and was sometimes a little flighty. “For example, she’ll do the wrong page in the workbook,” the teacher explained, “and I’ve even found her sitting in the wrong desk.”

“I don’t understand that,” I replied defensively. “Where could she have gotten that?”

The teacher went on to reassure me that my daughter was still doing fine in school and was sweet and likeable. Finally, after a pause, she added, “By the way, Mrs. Johnson, our appointment was for tomorrow.”

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I took my mother to the fair. She wanted to go on the Ferris wheel, but that's not my speed. So she went on the ride by herself.

In the middle of her ride, the wheel malfunctioned. I watched as Mom was thrown out of the gondola and landed in a heap at my feet.

I said, "Are you hurt?"

"Of course I'm hurt!" she replied. "Three times around and you didn't wave once!"