My wife says I've gotten to that point in my life when I tend to tell the same stories over and over. I don't doubt that, but since I so enjoy hearing myself talk, I find no problem with that. And, since I don't remember telling the story before, I get that "first-time" thrill every time I repeat myself. 

However, the story, I'm about to tell is one I remember having told in a column in West End's Best magazine a few years ago. I'm just telling it again because it's one of my favorites. It's about one of the most humiliating things that ever happened to me. But, my philosophy is that if you can get a story out of it, it's worth the humiliation.

So, here goes. If you've heard this before, just sit back and be prepared to enjoy it again. I know I will.

It all begins innocently enough. I had driven up to the Food Lion and was preparing to pull into a parking space. As I pulled in a car parked in front of the space into which I had just pulled, started to reverse right into me. I honked on my horn, in my customary friendly way.

Both the guy driving and the guy sitting next to him in the passenger seat, turned around and glowered at me. The driver mouthed something. I don't know what he said, but his scowl as well as that of the other guy made it clear they didn't appreciate my friendly warning toot.

Because I believe in educating, I mouthed back, "I was only trying to keep you from having an accident...idiot." I don't think he could have told I said "idiot," but anyway he pulls forward, then circles back and pulls up beside me. 

"Do you have a problem," he asked me. He looked mad. The guy next to him looked even madder.

"I just couldn't figure out why you were mad at me for honking," I said. "I was just trying to warn you." I didn't say "idiot" this time.

"I wasn't mad," he said. "I was saying, 'Thank you Lord for keeping me from an accident.'"

I knew the driver was lying, but I couldn't prove it. So, I thought quick(ly). "Well," I snapped back, "He (pointing to his passenger) sure gave me a dirty look."

As soon as I said that, I knew something was wrong. The driver got this hurt look on his face. I got scared, wondering what I had said that was so horrifying. It was then that the driver uttered three words that made this the most embarrassing day of my life. 

He looked at me with those hurt, puppy-dog eyes and said, "That's my wife."