know the info

friday.22.october.2021

reflection section

know the info

During setup of our Italian American community's heritage festival in Little Italy October 3rd, I pulled my little bright red Fiat - her name is Valentina - into the closed street after moving the barrier. I needed to unload my car and set up my book booth.

A guy walking by says to me - smugly, "The road is closed! Your car can't be here!"

Uh ... Hey ... Buddy ... how about you know the info before you wear your official badge, don your power suit, and mouth off ... whaddya say?

I firmly explained to him I knew the road was closed and I pulled in to set up my booth ... and please bugger off. (Okay, I didn't really tell him to bugger off. And I so wanted to call him a wanker as they do in England - such a great word.) I wanted to mouth off back to him, but I held my tongue, sorta.

Same day, same festival, different entrance ... as I retrieved Valentina from the parking lot, I once again moved the barrier to enter the street so I could break down my booth and load the car. This time a different guy shouts out, "You can't drive down this road! The road is closed!"

OH.MY.GOD. Yes, I am aware the road is closed, pal.

And then it happened ... oops ... I ripped into him.

"I KNOW THE ROAD IS CLOSED!! DO YOU THINK I AM STUPID??? I SEE THE ROAD IS CLOSED!!! YOU THINK I JUST FEEL LIKE DRIVING MY CAR THROUGH THE FESTIVAL!??? MIND YOUR OWN DAMN BUSINESS, I NEED TO LOAD MY CAR!!!!!!!!"

Or something equally as mean ... yea, like that.

Uh, think I kinda snapped? In my defense, I was really hot, I was very sweaty, I was tired of schlepping tables, boxes and books, and it had been a long day of dealing with the public with everyone setting down their full plastic cups of red wine on my table precariously close to my stack of books.

I merely wanted to load my car and go home. My friend and neighbor, Maria, was with me. I turned to her ... "Guess I was a tad harsh, huh?"

"Uh yup ... 'lil bit!"

Snippeteers, before we "mouth off," before we judge, before we say a word to anyone about anything ... know the info. Do we know what we're talking about when we toss out a direction, give advice, relay a story? Are we putting on a power badge we have no business wearing?

On my way out, I saw that guy and stopped my car to apologize through the window. Tried to make it light and airy, joke around. Told him I'm Italian (that always explains a lot.) He was a forgiving soul, thankfully.

It was a good lesson to learn. I need to heed my own advice and know the information, too, before I open my mouth to someone.

Know the info.

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snippeteer backtalk

lots of replies to the last snippet ...

don't wanna burn the midnight oil no more

"Love last week's article; it got me thinking about my life. Look forward to reading the next SNIPPETS in two weeks. Thank you."

~ Deborah in Maryland

"It's so funny! I JUST had this discussion with a friend, to resolve a misunderstanding, because I said I was 'tapped out.' I got ... 'YOU'RE tapped out? What do you think I am?' ... and, well, you can imagine! I'm not sure why, as women, we seem to think we should take it all on. My statement was never intended to apply to her, I was reflecting on my life at the moment and the choices we have and I had. I'm grateful we were able to work it out (I think) but it makes me look at the why of the whole situation and wonder, did we learn anything from being in lockdown for a year??"

~ name withheld

"Great move, you are an inspiration to all who have the privilege of knowing you."

~ Blessings, Lesley in Maryland

"We all need to cut ourselves some slack. I think it’s a wise woman who knows when she’s a little overbooked and changes some things. I’ll look forward to an every other week SNIPPETS, just as eagerly as a weekly one."

~ Paula C from NJ Shore

"It was a huge pleasure seeing you at the Italian Heritage Festival! Thanks for posting our picture … you can see how happy we were by the huge smiles! We admire all the work you have done and that you still do, and look forward to reading more of the same. Hope to see you again very soon!"

~ Jo in Maryland

"Thanks for the cheer in my inbox! Warmth and smiles certainly create a great start to the day. You are appreciated and so glad to know you, Suzanna!"

~ Jacqui in Maryland

"Yes, yes, yes … I am definitely guilty of staying up too late and will seriously try to go to bed earlier! This is not the first time I have said that to myself, but hopefully this time I will succeed!"

~ Phyllis in Maryland

"Alleluia, Girl! I get it! I am probably 10 years older than you and still going at warp speed. When will it end? I guess either when I end it or it ends me!! Yes, I really want to relax, but this person is built with a brake that is often overcome with an accelerator that just keeps pumping. You know, I’m sure once you’ve established yourself as proficient in something, the trap will not allow release on its own. Probably too many metaphors here, but you get it. I congratulate you for having the courage to put your care for yourself at the forefront and make an attempt to have a bit more relax and chillax time. You have affirmed my intention to just say NO and have more fun and down time."

~ name withheld

"You could become my role model. Good for you ... in fact, reading your column every other Friday is one LESS thing for me to do every Friday. My hubby thinks I say YES to everything, so when I do say NO, I tell him!! Will continue to enjoy your comments and insights, and will know that you are enjoying writing them more because of this move toward maintaining your sanity."

~ joanne in new york

"Good for you! When we burn the candle at both ends we hurt ourselves the most! I am running my 2 granddaughters everywhere on weekends - I am more tired at the end of a weekend than I am after a week of teaching! I finally told them they cannot book activities with friends without checking with me - and no double-booking - going straight from one activity to another. It is good to know others feel this way - and it is ok to say no or to stop doing something! I will look forward to your SNIPPETS whenever you send them out!"

~ Karen in Maryland

"Don’t worry ... be happy ... thank you for my new morning ritual."

~ jeanie in massachusetts

"Ciao! This is my favorite song [below] about your snippet last week. Enjoy the break you've allowed yourself!"

~ xoxoxo, Angelina

SNIPPETS standing ovation!

kudos to a true adventurer!

snippeteer Diane Hock walks 500 miles across Spain

"On the final day of my 60th year, I walked into the town of Santiago de Compostela, Spain, finishing a 500-mile backpacking pilgrimage on the El Camino de Santiago started on September 8th in Saint John Pied de Port, France. This pilgrimage with my amazing sister and travel adventure partner, Kathy Willis, honored our beloved Scott, our sister Karen Springston, our Pop, and so many others, as we carried mementos and memories with us.

We met kind people from all over the world, visited beautiful towns with amazing churches and walked under a beautiful star-filled sky when we started before dawn each morning. It was the hardest challenge I have faced physically, mentally and emotionally.

The daily grind of 36 days of non-stop hiking over mountains on rocky paths - carrying everything on our backs - had its highs and lows and is best described by Camino author, Beebe Bahrami:

You have just accomplished something huge, a holy trek, a great adventure, a simplification of life, a lesson in self-reliance, a broadening of horizons, a lightening of your heart and spirit, a deepening of your trust in life, and a wild walk into nature, culture and history, all the while with the kindness and generosity of everyone met along the way.'

Bring on 61! Buen Camino."

~ Diane Hock

(pictured left in top middle photo and below)