Ever notice how the most terrifying of situations can be comically funny?

The movies are great at creating such humor. Moments when seemingly there’s no way of avoiding a catastrophe, you find yourself laughing.  Episodes from Seinfeld, Jackie Gleason or going way back to Laurel and Hardy are filled with these moments of absurdity that in many cases make you laugh at yourself because you’ve been through it, too.

It happened Thursday when my son Jack and his wife Jen invited themselves over and brought along a chicken dinner. Jen’s parents, who live outside Chicago, are in the midst of downsizing to a condo and Jack and Jen flew out to help with the process of buying one place and moving out of another with an abundance of photos and at one time seemingly useful and sentimental items. They landed in Boston and thought to make a detour to Rhode Island on their way home to South Hadley, not all that far from Springfield.

It would be an early dinner, but first they wanted to meet Ferra, the wiggly mix of corgi and German Shepard that is the newest member of our family. A puppy, Ferra is cautious and stands behind us when strangers enter, even if we’re obviously happy to be with one another. Jack was first to attempt a self-introduction; getting to her level, reaching out and saying in soothing tones, “Aren’t you sweet? You have nothing to be afraid of.”

That looked like the perfect approach. After all, the dogs that have been members of the family over the years understood immediately that low, soft spoken words could be translated into a wag of a tail. And surely it didn’t hurt that Jack and Jen were the bearers of a brown paper bag from which emanated the scent of roast chicken. Ferra may be only eight months out, but she knowns chicken.

Gingerly, Ferra accepted the advances overcoming her trepidation and even allowing Jen to rub her pink spotted belly.  It’s an entirely different scene when Carol takes her out for a walk and they encounter another dog. She’s okay with dogs close to her size but if she spots a bigger and apparently older dog, she looks for cover. Such was the case when a well mannered pit-bull appeared ahead. Ferra needed no coaxing to head home, and once inside she gave the pit-bull a defiant bark.

We heard that bark again Thursday at dinner between our peals of laughter. Only this time it was an embarrassed bark, like “What did you expect…don’t I get any sympathy?”

Ferra found a secure place at Jen’s feet. She curled up and occasionally stretched out when Jen bent to pet her. Also lying at Jen’s feet was her tube-like purse with its thin, long shoulder strap. Somehow, maybe Ferra was playing with it, the strap got wrapped around Ferra’s neck. When Ferra moved, so did the purse. At first, Ferra was intrigued. Did the purse contain an animal? Was the purse an animal?

The dynamic was amusing but somehow like those well scripted sitcom episodes you could imagine where this was going.

It happened suddenly. Ferra bolted from under the table, with the purse in pursuit, its jiggling contexts causing it to jump.  Ferra panicked. What little tail she has was between her legs and with ears flat she shot into the living room.  The purse was still hot on her trail. She flew through the foyer, into the pantry and back to the security of the dining room table, wide eyed and panting. She barked and growled. We were laughing. Jack using the dulcet voice again was trying to untangle the purse from Ferra. It was rescued although some of its contents were spread across the carpet.

When it came time for them to leave, Ferra had regained her composure although she kept her distance from Jen’s purse. She had provided us with a rare unrehearsed moment of comedy that even Jerry couldn’t have pulled off.        

Ever notice how the most terrifying of situations can be comically funny?

The movies are great at creating such humor. Moments when seemingly there’s no way of avoiding a catastrophe, you find yourself laughing.  Episodes from Seinfeld, Jackie Gleason or going way back to Laurel and Hardy are filled with these moments of absurdity that in many cases make you laugh at yourself because you’ve been through it, too.

It happened Thursday when my son Jack and his wife Jen invited themselves over and brought along a chicken dinner. Jen’s parents, who live outside Chicago, are in the midst of downsizing to a condo and Jack and Jen flew out to help with the process of buying one place and moving out of another with an abundance of photos and at one time seemingly useful and sentimental items. They landed in Boston and thought to make a detour to Rhode Island on their way home to South Hadley, not all that far from Springfield.

It would be an early dinner, but first they wanted to meet Ferra, the wiggly mix of corgi and German Shepard that is the newest member of our family. A puppy, Ferra is cautious and stands behind us when strangers enter, even if we’re obviously happy to be with one another. Jack was first to attempt a self-introduction; getting to her level, reaching out and saying in soothing tones, “Aren’t you sweet? You have nothing to be afraid of.”

That looked like the perfect approach. After all, the dogs that have been members of the family over the years understood immediately that low, soft spoken words could be translated into a wag of a tail. And surely it didn’t hurt that Jack and Jen were the bearers of a brown paper bag from which emanated the scent of roast chicken. Ferra may be only eight months out, but she knowns chicken.

Gingerly, Ferra accepted the advances overcoming her trepidation and even allowing Jen to rub her pink spotted belly.  It’s an entirely different scene when Carol takes her out for a walk and they encounter another dog. She’s okay with dogs close to her size but if she spots a bigger and apparently older dog, she looks for cover. Such was the case when a well mannered pit-bull appeared ahead. Ferra needed no coaxing to head home, and once inside she gave the pit-bull a defiant bark.

We heard that bark again Thursday at dinner between our peals of laughter. Only this time it was an embarrassed bark, like “What did you expect…don’t I get any sympathy?”

Ferra found a secure place at Jen’s feet. She curled up and occasionally stretched out when Jen bent to pet her. Also lying at Jen’s feet was her tube-like purse with its thin, long shoulder strap. Somehow, maybe Ferra was playing with it, the strap got wrapped around Ferra’s neck. When Ferra moved, so did the purse. At first, Ferra was intrigued. Did the purse contain an animal? Was the purse an animal?

The dynamic was amusing but somehow like those well scripted sitcom episodes you could imagine where this was going.

It happened suddenly. Ferra bolted from under the table, with the purse in pursuit, its jiggling contexts causing it to jump.  Ferra panicked. What little tail she has was between her legs and with ears flat she shot into the living room.  The purse was still hot on her trail. She flew through the foyer, into the pantry and back to the security of the dining room table, wide eyed and panting. She barked and growled. We were laughing. Jack using the dulcet voice again was trying to untangle the purse from Ferra. It was rescued although some of its contents were spread across the carpet.

When it came time for them to leave, Ferra had regained her composure although she kept her distance from Jen’s purse. She had provided us with a rare unrehearsed moment of comedy that even Jerry couldn’t have pulled off.