A few days ago, when Ishu and I were on a little road trip with my mama and papa, I was reminded – yet again – how wonderful my sweet papa is.

You see, they were driving up to my cousin’s wedding for the weekend.

So they needed to pack their clothes, their toiletries, their wedding stuff. But we were all packing suitcases and throwing our stuff in the car while the little 18-month-old-of-the-house was running around, demanding attention.

Eventually, with a full trunk and a toddler restrained in his car seat, we looked around and thought, “Okay, we’re ready. Let’s go.”

About an hour and a half into the drive, my dad said, “Oh oops. I forgot my suit hanging in the coat closet.”

It was out of the question to turn around and go back and get it.

I leaned forward and asked, “What are you going to wear to the wedding??”

My mom started laughing and said, “Well, I guess he’s going in these jeans!”

They both had a little chuckle at my dad’s misfortune. I looked up department stores near the hotel to see if he could find a suit before the wedding the next day.

But they just decided they’d play it by ear to see if they’d even have time to sneak away and go to the mall.

After our next stop for McDonalds ice cream, my dad started the car and exited the parking lot. He straight up giggled and said, “You see, sometimes it’s fun when this happens.”

“When what happens?” I asked, confused.

“When you forget your suit. Or when things like this happen. It makes for a memorable trip,” he responded with a big smile on his face.

My dad did not go to the wedding in jeans.

They did find a Macy’s near the venue.

But he was down with whatever. He was OK going to the wedding in jeans, OK going in a suit, OK with whatever. Because, at the end of the day, he was going to get a laugh out of that one weekend where he was so distracted by his grandson’s mischief that he forgot his clothes at home.

May we all be a little like my papa and take life a little less seriously.

Show up to the wedding in jeans.

Or not.

But don’t let it dictate your attitude.