April Fools' Day

Ah, the first day of April. The time when some folks' fancy turns to pranks.

I don't think it was ever a particularly big holiday for me. Oh, one year our son taped down the handle on the kitchen sprayer in an attempt to give a sprinkle to whoever turned on the water. And I think one year at work someone tried to get us believe they were expecting a little bundle of joy. We've toyed with the idea of calling my mother (who has worked in libraries for a good portion of her life) to tell her she has an overdue library book with a big fine, but we've never secured an accomplice whose voice she wouldn't recognize.

But I do remember being the victim of a prank, though no harm was really done. It had to be at least 25 years ago, and it wasn't even that elaborate, really. But it has stuck with me.

I was working at the front desk of a hotel. The evening was progressing slowly yet steadily. One of our regular local clients came in. He'd often reserved groups of rooms for his out-of-town colleagues if they were having a meeting. So he says to me, he says...something along the lines of, "The guys will be getting here soon. Do you have their keys ready?" Uh...blank stare from me. "How many rooms was that? I don't see anything here, but I can get them ready for you." I was flustered and annoyed with the salesperson who hadn't properly made the reservation. So I start pulling out blank folios (the "bill") and keys and key envelopes and tried to gather as much information as I could from him while trying to not let him know that someone else had dropped a pretty big ball here. Biting my lip while trying to keep a smile on my face. I wasn't prepared for a group check-in, but I couldn't fix that now. All I could do was forge ahead and make the best of it.

He casually asked me what the date was, as if to write out a payment check. I surely answered, "April 1st." Then he asked me again...maybe even a third time until it dawned on me. April 1st, as in April Fools' Day. The sales manager came up from her office (I don't know if I even knew she was there) and the two of them surely had a few chuckles at my expense. I laughed, too, and I was probably relieved that there wasn't actually a missing group reservation rather than angry. As I recall, they were a little disappointed that I didn't freak out more. I was just too darn good at handling situations professionally, if I do say so myself.

In a weird way, I was a little honored that someone took the time to prank me. We were a close-knit group there for years. The people are what kept me there long past the time when I enjoyed the actual work.

In recent years, I remember LinkedIn making it look as if some famous (or was it dead?) person had visited your profile. And at least once, Google Analytics showed that the International Space Station had been reading your blog! But I think I'm happier not having to look over my shoulder all day or question everything someone says to me. If I'm going to play a practical joke on someone, I'd probably do it on a different day...when they least expect it.

Do you celebrate April Fools' Day? Or has anyone ever really "gotten you good"? No joke...don't be shy about sharing!