See this large taffy balloon? Shriver's Salt Water Taffy store on the boardwalk here in Ocean City on the Jersey Shore gives away 50 of these giant balloons nightly at 8 pm. (Smart marketing - this freebie pulls in mega amounts of customers to buy their huge array of candy, fudge, chocolate, and other sweets.)

I never knew about this marvelous nugget of fun information, so when I saw a bunch of people walking along the boardwalk with these tall balloons bobbing over their heads, I stopped a lady to inquire.

"Be right back!" I said to Hubs as I dashed lickety-split to the back of Shriver's, only to be handed an actual piece of regular-sized flavored taffy.

"Wait, did the balloon shrink?" I joked with the guy working.

Bummer - they were out of balloons - and it was only 8:12 pm.

Rejoined Hubs as we continued our 'boardwalk date' ... and we happened to be following a foursome of 20-something young ladies, two of which held those giant taffy balloons.

"I want one of those balloons," I said to Hubs. "They are so funny!" I thought it would be fun to add one to the decorations I had already put up for my sister Pamela's birthday - she and her family were arriving to our beach house the next day.

"Maybe I'll ask one of those girls if they would sell me one."

We kept walking behind them, "following what I wanted."

"Are you going to stalk them?" Hubs laughed.

"Yes," I said. "Yes, I am." I hadn't figured out how I was going to get one of those balloons, but I knew in my gut I would be taking one home. I envisioned it.

The foursome stopped. I stopped. I tapped one girl on the arm. "Excuse me, did Shriver's give away only a certain number of these balloons?" I asked.

"Yes," answered the girl. "Do you want it?"

"Oh no," I lied. "I can't take your balloon!"

"Go ahead, take it," said the girl. "Really."

"Are you sure?" I asked, trying to hide a smirk. "Well, at least let me pay you for it?" reaching into my shorts pocket for a $5 dollar bill.

"No, they're free!" said the girl. "Take it," she said. "Anyway, these long balloons are not going to fit in our small car."

We chuckled over that.

And off I walked with my sought-after goal - one happy balloon holder. I felt like a satisfied five-year-old.

"Happy?" asked Hubs, shaking his head. He may or may not be accustomed to his headstrong Italian wife plotting her way. :D

"Yes," I answered. "Yes, I am." (It is the little delights in life which delight us, right, snippeteers?)

As our boardwalk walk continued, eventually Hubs and I turned around. Then I felt a tap on my arm - and there stood the same polite balloon-gifting young lady offering me a second giant taffy balloon.

"Here, take this one, too," she laughed. "They are definitely too long to fit inside our Mazda!"

"Awwwww, thanks!" I said, and accepted her gift. "But I won't keep this one. Since you gifted me a balloon, I will gift one, too." And then I searched for - and found - a pre-teen girl not carrying a taffy balloon and asked if she wanted it. She happily accepted.

Snippeteers ... follow what you want. Envision it. See yourself with it. When you spot it, you may not know the process of how you'll achieve it, but if you walk behind it long enough, you will manifest it. The Universe helps you do this.

And that pink cotton candy in my hand? Well, I followed that, too, when I saw it sitting in a candy store. And then it followed me ... right into my mouth. :D (I loooove cotton candy.)

Follow what you want.

Snippeteers - I can't always be trusted to remember everyone's locale. PLEASE remember to include your TOWN / STATE when you backtalk ...

even if you think I know it already!

"When I was working at the awful hour of 5:30 AM, the alarm clock wasn't my friend. My bathroom mirror reflected my grumpy morning mood. I brought that face to the breakfast table. My husband, already retired, was teaching himself stained glass and made me a stained glass sun-catcher. But instead of putting it on the window, he put it at the top of the bathroom mirror. It says SMILE in happy, colorful, cheerful letters."  

~ Pat W in Pennsylvania 

"Hit home. This was so timely and greatly needed. The summer baring of the skin has always caused me to be uncomfortable. Even in my youth. Why? I was perfection. This snippet, in my mind, made me feel less alone. Thanks ... and you are beautiful!"

~ Your friend, Kathy in Phoenix, Maryland

"Relate! I have reached the age of 73 (many don't), have so many blessings and yet, struggle with my self worth. Why is this? Will certainly mull over your messsage and advice. Thank you for the eye-opener."

~ Dianne in Parkton, Maryland

"We are all beautiful. Thanks for the message."

~ Dianne in Annapolis, Maryland

"Of course we always look at our imperfections and our aging bodies with regret, but also with resolve to be the best we can be, no matter what we look like on the outside. We are used to that as we have practiced it all our lives. Thanks for the 19 years of SNIPPETS and ALL you do for everyone. If nothing else, you zero in on the perspective and give us something to ponder!" 

~ Love, Dee in Ocean City, Maryland

"Grazie for the reminder!." 💜

~ Angie in Jarrettsville, Maryland

You don't have to feel ready to begin.

Focus on the first baby step.