Being Accident Prone Means Learning To Laugh At Yourself

Plank Craze or Crazy Planking

Remember a trend called planking back in the early 2000s? I’m not talking about the exercise we do today. Planking was a crazy activity where you’d find an unusual location and then lay face down, your body stiff like a board—intentionally—then post the image on social media. Teens and young adults made it hugely popular. My oldest thought it was ridiculous; I thought it was dangerous. I’m much too accident prone to take up a new sport.

2011 was the year I gave up my driver’s license, so I spent a lot of time with my oldest teen as she drove me around. She told me about the shenanigans in the youth group with the planking craze. As the supportive mother I aspire to be, I listened and, this time, wholeheartedly agreed with her. Every generation has its fad, so I shared one of mine.

“I suppose your Gen Z planking is like my Gen (plead the 5th) activity of stringing skivvy’s up the flag pole at camp,” I said.

I gave the two-finger eyes on the road signal when she stared at me before spewing, “That’s disgusting.”

So true. Thankfully, I always had lookout duty, which is hilarious now that we know about my vision issue. In my working days, I always served as the getaway car driver, I mean, designated driver, but that’s another story.

The planking craze was all over social media back in the day, and I marveled at the ingenious ideas of places these creative people found to plank.

Jordan and I ran errands one Saturday. Target was new to our area, and we did our duty as good citizens to ensure they had a successful opening. We headed back to the car, hands full and arms loaded with packages.

I didn’t see the large red ball (bollards, if you want to get technical) Target uses as barriers in front of the store and hit it head-on. Arms and legs flailed, but I managed not to lose a package, making righting myself difficult. So, I did what any accident-prone person would do…

I yelled, “PLANK!” and made it look intentional.

No one clapped, but I got a few snickers and one fully mortified daughter, who I later found hunkered behind the car’s steering wheel.

The ability to laugh at your accident-prone self is essential; allowing others to laugh with you is an acquired skill.

I could share numerous stories, but I’ll let my friend and colleague. Rachel Skatvold tell a few.

In Rachel’s newest release, Treasured Keepsakes, the main character, Jayson, is going through a midlife crisis. This leaves him absent-minded and accident-prone, and he finds himself in several precarious situations.

Have you ever had a laugh-worthy mishap that might not have been funny then, but now you look back at it with a smile? I’d love to hear your story, but before you leave yours in the comments, check out how to enter to win an eBook copy and a $5 Amazon gift card.

You have multiple chances to enter. Read each author’s funny story on or after the date listed, and you’ll find another entry form.

Rachel Skatvold: March 26
Heidi Gray Mcgill: March 27
Jennifer Pierce: March 28
Marguerite Martin Gray: March 29
Melissa Wardwell: March 30
Tabitha Bouldin: March 31

Rachel Skatvold’s book, Treasured Keepsakes in year two of the Suamalie Islands Series, will keep you engaged and laughing.

Don’t forget to come back and comment with your story after entering the drawing!

*Please note this is an affiliate link. As always, it costs you nothing extra, and it all goes to my chocolate fund.

Special thanks to Danica Lohmeyer for the Target image and to Jonathan Habbick for recreating a planking pose from the comfort of his home.