I was sitting in the hospital waiting room, mindlessly watching the television. It was “Days of Our Lives” or “As the World Turns” or “General Hospital” or one of those soaps. A sultry young woman had just caught her boyfriend alone in a room speaking in hushed tones with another sultry young woman, and was confronting him vociferously: “I knew you two were up to something!” Just then, from behind every door and sofa and potted plant exploded an army of birthday well-wishers: “Surprise!”

Boy, has that often happened to me!

From the hospital I was headed to Frank Vesci’s to have my right turn signal fixed. It just stopped working two days ago and I have an appointment to drop it off tonight. I’ve been trying to avoid right turns for two days but some are unavoidable. A few cars behind me seem miffed, though I’m using hand signals. No doubt they think me chronically irresponsible — which I would think of them were the tables turned. Little do they know it’s a brand new problem and I’m on my way to take care of it.

All of which makes today a day for remembering to give the benefit of the doubt. We all have something weird going on that no else can even imagine.