Better Watch What You Say

Dear Boo and Bubble,

The other day, while the Mt. Dora Arts Festival was going on, we stopped into “PizzAmore!” for some lunch and to take a breather from walking the packed streets lined pole-to-pole with booths of the hundreds of artists who exhibited their various forms of work here. At the table next to us sat another couple engaged in their own conversation. I overheard the woman remark how good it was to be away from the madding crowd to which I responded “Yes, it is!”

We started chatting, asking all of the common questions you do when meeting someone for the first time. Right after the opening salvo of “What is your name?” of course came “And, where are you from?” Turns out, they live in Alexandria, VA. So, we immediately told them that you and your mom and dad live in Arlington.

After then probing as to how many children and grandchildren they have, Captain paused for a minute.

“We have some friends that we met here who live in Chantilly.....is that close to you?”

“Oh, you know the Isners, too!” they responded.

Indeed, the Isners were who we were describing – mutual friends that we all had met in Mt. Dora.

“It's a small world,” we all commented.

Which got me thinking ----- thank goodness we had not been saying something negative about the Isners (and, trust me, there wouldn't be anything negative to say) ------ but, had we, it certainly would have been caught by them. It's always a good practice, boys, to watch what you say, especially when out in public. Or, even better, as your great, great grandmother Bethany used to advise - “If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all!”

It reminds me of the situation I found myself in 40 years ago when Captain and I were returning from our honeymoon in Cape Cod. We had flown through LaGuardia airport in New York to get to Boston. On the return, we had to do the same going back to Greenville. When we arrived at the gate for our last leg of the trip about thirty minutes before boarding. The waiting area was already packed (back then passengers weren't the only ones admitted into the gate) and there was only one seat available. Captain, being the ultimate gentleman, let me have the seat and he leaned up against a post across from me.

Finally, time came for boarding the flight. As the attendant made the announcement, people started stirring about. At which point, Captain said as loudly as he could - “Beth, please tell your husband how much I have enjoyed this last week. You're the best.”

Being a brand new bride, I was mortified. A robust, crimson blush rose quickly up my neck and into my cheeks. I felt compelled to explain and turned to the men on either side of me and said “Oh, he's just kidding. He IS my husband.”

To which the one on my left answered “We know he's your husband. Only a husband would say something like that!”

They all laughed, and just as my blush began to subside, he said, “By the way, how's your dad, Schaefer? I had him for Business Law at Furman.”

At that point, I just felt like absolutely going through the floor.

Yep.......you better watch what you say. You never know who might be listening.......or who you might be talking to!