Jimmy Del Ponte On The Silly Side (The opinions and views expressed in the commentaries of The Somerville News belong solely to the authors of those commentaries and do not reflect the views or opinions of The Somerville News, its staff or publishers.) April 1st is, of course, April Fool's Day. It's a day to play pranks on people to make them feel foolish. It got me thinking of all the times I feel foolish in the course of my regular, everyday life. I don't need to set one designated day aside.

I just spent 45 minutes opening bills and paying them online. I felt foolish when I saw the interest rates I am being screwed with. I also feel foolish that there is no one to blame but myself. It's always better when you can toss the blame for feeling foolish on someone or something else. I felt foolish when I let that gal in the black Nissan truck go ahead of me in traffic and she didn't even so as much as nod in acknowledgment. She was talking on her cell phone, and once again there I am feeling…you guessed it, foolish! I always feel foolish when someone sees me and says, "hey Jim, how have you been, man?" I can't remember their name, so I say "hey, pal…great to see you!" It is great to see them, only I wish I could use their actual name, like they did with me. FOF (Feeling Of Foolishness) sets in.

I go into the restroom and glance in the mirror and notice I had a little glob of toothpaste on my lower lip. I wore that foolish spot into Dunkin' Donuts, into CVS, and past several co-workers on my way to my desk. What a maroon. I go to kiss my aunt at her birthday party, and I just about knock her out with my oversized, bulbous head. I was so excited to see her, I misjudged my approach and landing. The fool strikes again.

And then there is that yearly appointment with the female dermatologist. That emasculating ordeal, along with my annual physical, are enough to make me want to shrink down like Fred Flintstone used to, and run away and hide. I wonder if the people who still have their Christmas lights up feel foolish? I feel a bit foolish that I didn't write about Easter, instead of April Fool's Day. Just for the record, I can't stand marshmallow Peeps. It's like chewing a sticky hunk of sand. By the way, yesterday I took my St. Patrick's Day window decorations down!

I also felt a bit foolish dressing up like Lady Gaga for Somerville's Google pitch, but I took one for the 'Ville. I feel foolish when I finish singing a song at a gig and no one claps. I feel foolish when I look directly at my son Joey and call him Jimmy – and vice-versa! And believe it or not, some people call me by my brother's name – Joey – just like my father did. Have you ever glanced down at your shoes and notice that you have two different-colored socks on? One of my biggest foolish-feeling moments was when I wore brown shoes with my first holy communion suit. There was no way my parents were going to blow money on a pair of white bucks that I would only wear once.

I am walking down the street and I trip on the sidewalk. I don't go down, but a few people see me stumble. That is really embarrassing. On April Fool's Day, some kids will no doubt make a crank call and ask if your refrigerator is running. You will hang up before they can say "well, you better catch it before it runs out the door." You will probably get a few suspicious e-mails on April 1st. One year we got a big snowstorm. That was a good prank! Maybe someone will bring a whoopee cushion to work.

I feel foolish when I am at a store and they tell me the price. I am truly a fool to pay through the nose for an ordinary small ice cream. And to make matters worse, I have to stand in a line for 10 minutes before I get ripped off. What a fool! My father would have told them off. Come to think of it, my kids are always afraid I am going to say something foolish and embarrass them – and I usually do. Sometimes I play loud Broadway musical songs when I drop them off at school!

No matter how cool you think you are, remember that cool turns into fool by just changing one little letter. We are never as cool as we think we are. Just as you are walking down the street feeling cool, that's when you will no doubt trip or step in something that will make you feel like a fool. But just shake it off, laugh it off and…wipe it off. It's all good. As that great band, The Main Ingredient, sang "Everybody plays the fool, sometimes."

You can email Jimmy directly at jimmydel@rcn.com.