At age 23 in 1969, I married Gary. After pursuing careers rather than family, we endured years of trying to have a baby, including every form of infertility treatment available at that time. We also worked with lawyers and a potential surrogate mother. In our infertility doctor’s office, the surrogate’s “husband” confessed that she was married to someone else; they had fraudulently signed our contract for the money. She did not get pregnant, and our “failure” was complete.

That “failure” became a turning point in my life. I decided: This baby is not meant to be, and I began to form my deep conviction that a positive outlook on life helps us deal with life’s challenges and provides us instead with opportunities to succeed.

In the 1990s, I taught myself how to make balloon creations and started volunteering at nonprofit groups as a clown. In 1999, I went to Vietnam to entertain children, and since 2004, Gary and I have volunteered regularly as clowns at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and local pediatric hospital units.

What we find is that, as caring clowns, we can speak from our hearts, bringing joy and laughter to children and children-at-heart, if only for a few moments.

Judy Gleklen Kopff,

Washington

Query: Tell us about a time something funny, embarrassing or remarkable happened at a Washington dinner party.

The Washington Post is partnering with the Public Insight Network (PIN) to hear more of your 100 percent true stories taken from your own experience. Submit your answer to the query above online at wapo.st/ed­query. By sharing your story, you become part of PIN — a network of more than 130,000 people who contribute to high-quality journalism. Editors will choose an entry to run in the Magazine, but we will also share more of your stories online. You can also submit to The Washington Post Magazine, 1150 15th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20071. Include your daytime phone number. Recount your story in 250 words or fewer.