I try hard to see the funny side of life, because my stars certainly seem to be out of alignment.

Crazy things happen to me.

Maybe I am a magnet that attracts the bizarre in this world.

At least that’s the way it appears to me, and to friends and relatives eager to hear my latest episode of “As the World Turns Upside Down.”

If I attempted to list all the recent calamities in my life, I would have to write a book instead of a column.

A few weeks ago, I got stuck in a carwash. Twice!

The conveyor belt pulling my car through, with me captive in it, came to an abrupt stop at the point where wide, swinging strips of heavy cloth resembling a crazed octopus repeatedly slapped the car, while torrents of water deluged it.

My car couldn’t move and I couldn’t get out.

Eventually an attendant noticed and shut off the water and machinery.

He did something to the tracks near the front wheel and got my car moving again.

He then told me I did not get a complete wash and should take the car through again, at no charge.

Stupidly I agreed.

And, of course, the same thing happened a second time, at exactly the same spot.

As I sat helplessly watching my poor car get slapped violently again and again, I fully expected smashed windows.

I visualized the news headlines that evening: “Woman drowns in car wash.”

When I finally got home alive, my fate didn’t improve.

I was in the basement when I heard a minor explosion and watched the lights go out.

The dehumidifier had blown its compressor and tripped the circuit breaker.

When I moved the machine to another outlet, (don’t ask why!), sparks flew and those lights went out, too.

Quickly I learned buying a dehumidifier during the sweltering days of July was not going to be easy.

Several appliance stores were sold out. One store had two models in stock, both in sealed boxes.

Decision making never was my strong suit.

Reluctantly, I eventually chose a dehumidifier, sight unseen, only to be informed the store does not accept credit cards.

Who walks around with $300 cash in her pocket?

A week later, I finally bought a new dehumidifier, but then could not get it out of my car! (A salesman had put the box into the car).

Thank goodness for the kindness of nice neighbors.

My collector car, an ’84 Subaru that doesn’t get driven much, often had to have its battery jumped before the car would start.

So, a mechanic suggested I buy a battery maintainer to keep the battery fully charged.

I hooked it up and checked it daily.

After working fine for a week, the maintainer apparently forgot its role and decided to drain the battery instead.

I had to buy a new battery.

The store replaced the maintainer, but now I’m afraid to use it. What next?

Fortunately I can laugh - now.

And that’s good, according to medical professionals and even the Bible.

Proverbs 17:22 says, “A merry heart doth good like a medicine …”

Most likely that scripture is the source for today’s common adage: “Laughter is the best medicine.”

According to research, laughter and humor have a positive effect on our health and well-being.

They provide ways to blow off steam in a beneficial way.

Laughter can improve heart health, blood pressure and muscle tension.

Studies have shown laughter and humor can lower our bodies’ stress hormones and release happy hormones and chemicals such as dopamine, endorphins and serotonin.

Laughter strengthens our ability to cope with problems.

Good, because I need a dose of humor right about now.

Mindlessly, I loosened the lid on a jar of moisturizing cream and then picked up the jar upside down, right above a wicker basket filled with magazines.

Use your imagination.

This mess will involve several hours with paper towels and an old toothbrush.

But I’ll be fine.

Tomorrow I will look back on all this and laugh.