>It could fit into the category of adventure. It could be creative problem solving. A more accurate label might be dangerous choices, activities for which you are too old, fun things to do unless you get arrested, or ways to make your mother laugh until she wheezes because she can’t believe what you’ve done.

My younger brother just gave me yet another item worthy of big-sisterly teasing that fits at least one of the above categories; I just can’t decide which one.

My brother and his wife were staying at my mom’s apartment in the senior living complex. Mom left for a morning appointment. Shortly after that, her husband got a phone call for an appointment of his own saying, “We’ve had a cancellation. Can you come now?” He left, too. Brother and sister-in-law were gathering their things and putting their shoes on to drive across town to my house when they realized they would have to leave the apartment unlocked because there were only two keys, and both keys had left with their respective owners. Er, renters. But my ever-creative brother thought of another solution.

He locked the door from the inside and climbed out of their balcony. On. The. Third. Floor.

His route to the ground took him over the balcony, past the apartment below, down one floor to a mildly slanted roof, and from there to a nice, solid wall surrounding the dumpsters. He jumped down from the wall to where his wife was waiting for him. I didn’t see this happen, but I’m sure she was at least grinning, if not laughing out loud. They hopped in the car and came over to visit.

The plot thickens. We went back to the senior living community and had lunch in its little cafe. The downstairs neighbors were eating there, too. They didn’t seem to recognize Brother, so we decided he had escaped the adventure without being seen, despite smiling and waving at the other table.

So, folks, what do you think? Here are a few category options.

• Adventure
• Creative thinking
• Cognitively guided problem solving
• Things you should have learned in school (or not) had you been paying attention
• Reasons to build your upper arm strength
• Are you really smarter than a fifth grader?
• I can do anything, I’m a liberal arts graduate!

Yes, our mother was surprised. And she really did laugh until she wheezed.