Good news. The world isn’t paved with eggshells after all.

President Bush was back from Iraq and was facing the White House press corps Wednesday in the Rose Garden. Reporters were trying to pin him down on the usual policy concerns, but the president was feeling chatty.

“Fine looking scarf,” he said of the fabric tucked in a TV reporter’s coat pocket. “Pocket square,” the reporter corrected him.

Minutes later, Peter Wallsten of the Los Angeles Times stood to ask if Bush has some credibility work to do since adviser Karl Rove escaped indictment in the CIA leak affair. Before the reporter could get his question out, though, Bush ribbed him for wearing “shades” on a cloudy day.

“For the viewers,” said Bush, meaning the television audience, “there’s no sun.”

“I guess it depends on your perspective,” Wallsten said with a smile, drawing a “touché” from Bush.

The president went on to hear (and duck) the credibility question, not knowing that Wallsten has Stargardt’s disease, which makes him sensitive to glare and legally blind.

Later, after aides had filled Bush in, he phoned Wallsten to apologize. Wallsten said he wasn’t offended, they exchanged good-natured repartee and that was it. No pious recriminations about insensitivity. No denunciations of a bloodthirsty, partisan press. Bush must have swallowed hard when he learned the details, but the gulp never became a “Gaffe,” thanks to the humanity of both men.

And that’s the news this week from Lake Wobegon.