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My very first blog. 9/1/2007! Total blogs as of today. Use your wit.

By
Real Estate Agent with RE/MAX Advantage

No picture today. 

Well, perhaps a picture of my daughter, whom the blog is about.  As normal, she had encouraged me to try something new. To be honest, she has insisted that I do many things!!

valerie canepa turtle using your wit blog 2007

I was a real estate agent and blogging was something new so off I went.  How many years is that?   18!!   How many blogs have I done?   OMG!!   2078 blogs.  They began as real estate related and have now grown to be more like historic things from my area.  

So here goes the first one. Click https://activerain.com/droplet/7Kcg .

Or read it here. 

Using your wit.

Using your wit is a great way to make it in life.  My daughter decided to go to San Francisco shortly after graduating from college.  She'd been in small cities all her life and all at once she was on her own in a huge city where one side of the street may be safe and the other side may cost you your life.  You had to learn which side of the street to be on.

She has many tales of survival in San Francisco but my favorite is the one where she was walking down the street near the bus station (She also had to learn about public transportation....not an easy task in my opinion.) when she was being surrounded by definitely "unfriendly" types.  She had to use her wit....and use it fast!  She said she turned to them and with the wildest of looks in her eyes and the weirdest of sounds coming from her mouth she pretended to be a crazy person.  A crazy person is now probably considered a politically incorrect term but that many years ago, it wasn't.

She convinced the threatening group that they'd picked on someone completely loco who could be very dangerous and they disappeared and she was safe.  That's using your wit.

Not a bad beginning, was it?

Comments(8)

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Aura Alex
Seattle, WA
Retired Real Estate Pro

How interesting, Barbara. Your daughter's wit came in handy during the unfortunate moment. Thank you for sharing. Please do more!

May 12, 2025 01:52 PM
Barbara S. Duncan

Thank you for reading and commenting.  You have to go to a big city from the deep south to understand how different big cities are!

May 13, 2025 05:49 AM
Patricia Feager
Flower Mound, TX
Inactive/Semi Retired Real Estate Agent

Barbara S. Duncan - I know exactly how you felt when your daughter went out on her own and ended up SF where she had a lot learn about transportation, which side of the street to walk on, and how to stay safe. I should know. I was born and raised in Chicago, not a suburb but in a city as you described. It can be as beautiful as it can be scary. 

Once I felt unsafe near Downtown when a strange guy started walking towards me with his lips kissing in the air while coming closer to me. When he got too close, I spit in his face and started screaming. He ran for his life! I kept walking with a smile on my face because I showed no fear. 

May 12, 2025 02:24 PM
Barbara S. Duncan

She did well and so did you!  Thanks for commenting.

May 12, 2025 04:06 PM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Retired Home Stager/Redesign

Hi Barbara- Good for your daughter for using her head and wit!!!  I'm sure you proud of her and scared for her at the same time. 

May 12, 2025 05:37 PM
Barbara S. Duncan

I am so proud of her!!

May 13, 2025 05:50 AM
Don Thompson
Donthomp Associates - Sunnyvale, CA

As a guy, I always felt safe in San Francisco. I went to college there in 1961 - 1963.

I lived in Berkeley and carpolled there across the Oakland Bay Bridge. Upon entering the "City" as we all called it, I could smell roasting coffee and bread baking. Quite a ofactory experience. Now living in Sunnyvale, I have taken the train there to go to Fisherman's Wharf for some Dungeness crab.

Also there's the San francisco Opera for a great operatic experience.

There are some tough areas but they are well known and should be avoided.

May 12, 2025 06:05 PM
Barbara S. Duncan

It would be total difference from growing up in a big city vs. growing up in a deep south tiny city.  Lucky she learns quickly!!  I have never learned.

May 13, 2025 05:52 AM
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Hello Barbara - write what you know worked out well.  Initially and still after 2000 posts and many years.  Good for you.  

May 13, 2025 03:20 AM
Barbara S. Duncan

Thank you, Michael.

May 13, 2025 05:53 AM
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Real Estate Broker

Good morning, Barbara... I grew up in NY City, went to school in DC, lived in major world cities like NYC, San Francisco, Paris, London, Boston... and it would never have occurred to me to respond the way your daughter did... that was fast thinking on her part. 

May 13, 2025 04:53 AM
Barbara S. Duncan

You didn't have to think because you already knew all the city stuff!!

May 13, 2025 05:54 AM
Kat Palmiotti
eXp Commercial, Referral Divison - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

Now that's a lot of posts and time! Loved your first blog post - your daughter definitely kept her wits about her!

May 13, 2025 05:03 AM
Barbara S. Duncan

She was very young then and did great in that city.

May 13, 2025 05:54 AM
J.R. Schloemer
Kentucky Select Properties - Louisville, KY

You are way ahead of me. I have 3 under my belt, and to be honest..I do not foresee me doing anymore than those 3. Great hearing your daughter is fast on her feet and able handle herself and get herself out of predicaments we can all find ourselves facing. Thanks for the memories.

May 13, 2025 08:12 PM
Barbara S. Duncan

Don't give up so easy.  It sorta becomes fun!

May 14, 2025 04:02 AM