A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
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Blundin2005
Member Posts: 1,167
Hi,
Ive been sharing this story to a few friends and I thought that maybe you might enjoy the laugh too
I volunteered to be the captain for my team (American Womens Association of Rome) for Race for the Cure in Rome on the 21st of May. It was a good experience on many levels. Im the type of person who takes responsibility seriously probably TOO seriously if you get my meaning .. Feeling the duty to encourage as many people as possible to participate and donate, I offered to register on-line and pick up their race bags . Ready for them on the day of the race. an incentive to sign up!
Wellllll this was welcomed by almost ALL who were running. And WHAT did I know!!!! It was my first time participating myself!!!
I thought I was prepared . The week before the race, I asked about the size of the bags when I talked with the organizers it seemed manageable to pick them up .
The day before the race, I went to the Race Village expecting to spend the morning casually strolling around .getting to know where to meet with people the next day to visit with my surgeon and the other volunteers have a capaccino and cornetta and relax a little bit .. HA!!!
I arrived early and found my way to the registration tables. Their were many ladies behind the table and they were just beginning their work. I began a conversation with one of them in my best Italian. She nodded and them asked that I follow her to another lady down the way a bit I began again in my broken Italian and the lady answered first in Italian then began to speak perfect English. this made it easier for both of us .
The ladies at registration were delighted with my organization a check off list of participants shirt sizes we were moving right along one lady checked the paperwork with me while the other brought the bags the each of them looked around me and asked, Do you have help?. I answered innocently , No, Im alone why? The two ladies looked at each other in disbelief and suggested, Maybe you could call someone to come help you? and they pointed to the bags that had been piled for me to take away .along with the line of people that had now formed behind me waiting to get through their check in. GEEEEESE! A few of the very generous sponsors donated creams, sun lotion and sun block for the skin wonderful , thoughtful gifts for the ladies . And they WEIGHED a lot!!! .. each bag was 2 lbs EACH ... I was there to pick up16 !!!!! Then she gave me my receipt for my Survivor Bag she said, Youll love to hear this you need to go to another place to get another bag!!!.
I asked first Can I leave these here until tomorrow? They apologized and said No, because there is no place to put where than would be safe .only one security guard for the Village isnt a guarantee that youll find them tomorrow.. Shocked I went to me cell phone and began to call for help but who to call?! My husband had surgery for an umbilical hernia only days before and wasnt permitted to lift weight. It was Saturday morning and no one wanted to come into Rome on a Saturday morning after working there all week they wanted only to be home .I thought Ill try Vicky she was last minute to sign up and wanted her bags. Vicky, Hi, its Marilyn . And I told her the story ..and Vicky, I couldnt take even one more bag, so Im sorry but Im not able to pick up your bags for you .I realize its last minute, but . Then Vicky tried to collect her thoughts and said, Ohhh Marilyn, ohhhh, ummmm, Im sorry, I can t get there now .. . Its OK, I understand, its so last minute and I was not organized for this Ill try Peggy or Vivian thanks anyway. .. and then another Peggy, Hi its Marilyn . And again the story Ohhh Marilyn I would come to help but Im not in Italy until Tuesday did you try Pat who lives nearby? . .. thanks Peggy see you when you get back. Ringggggggggggg no answer! . Argggghh! Vivian! Shell help .. Ringgggggggg no answer ! .. Double Arggghhh!
One of the ladies came from behind the table with three large trash bags she found, and helped me to put into them the 16 smaller bags. I resigned myself to the fact that I was going to find a way to deal with this. As the lady walked back to the table she said Someone owes you a very good dinner!! I struggled with the bags and found my way to the Survivor Tent. just around the corner.
I walked into the Tent and every head turned around. I asked if I could sit down .Certemente! (certainly!) I gave her the receipt for my bag, and she brought a lovely little pink bag with . Yes, you guessed it . More gifts! Because we are special the lady explained!!!! Yikeeeeee! I tried again with the cell phone but no help was available. I thought to myself .. Ive dealt with harder things in my life I can DO this!!! I tied two of the bags together . Ohhhh , I forgot to mention earlier . I brought a back pack with me to use to return with some bags . !!!! I was able to put two in the back pack!!! So cute! !! One of the ladies realized what I was doing and offered to help. She asked the same questions as the ladies at the registration desk, then asked What are you going to do? I said, Im going to find my way to the street hail a cab . Go to the train station and return home. It seemed simple I only needed to struggle with the bags to the street or so this was my plan!!!
I needed to get the bags from Rome back to Bracciano by TRAIN!!! and subway!!!! Driving and parking in Rome is next to impossible everything youve ever heard about Italian drivers is true and then some not to mention the Vespers and motorcycle like little mosquitoes, buzzing past, and around, and sometimes . it even seems over you!!! Sooooo, public trans is the best choice and I like it under normal circumstances. This travel is one and one half hours not including walking to the stations!! So I began the trek ... I thought often to other challenges I've faced .... this had to be the least of them.
I tried to hail a cab Imagine me standing on the side of the road, a grey-haired lady donning my pink Breast Cancer hat (from Philadelphia by the way) . Holding my ever so cute, pink, Survivor Bag and three, large, green , and full trash bags!!! Would YOU pick me up??!! The cabs passed me by ... so I walked to the subway station , stopping frequently to adjust the weight or simply rest awhile.
I walked down the steps to the metro station . Before I arrived to the turn stiles, a young man from inside the booth came out and stopped me Seniora, che e dentro le borse? (Miss, what is inside the bags?) Great!!!! I thought . Just what I needed they stopped me for a security check!!!! I was breathless, hot, tired and I gave him a fully conscious look that was between Please dont make my day any worse and Dont mess with me, young man! Again, my Italian is not the best, and he became frustrated with it so he spoke English. When I showed him the bags, he waived me on. By then, I needed to rest a little bit anyway so I said No, really its OK look I want to see what s in here too! They shared glances with each other of Boy do we have a live one here! After a little bit, I made my way to the platform and let down the bags the metro would arrive in three minutes according to the sign.
Remember the picture in your mind of me hailing the cab? Now, there happened to be two tourist across the tracks on the opposite platform looking bewildered at me. Then he took out his camera oh yes . This tourist took a picture of me from across the platform!!! How humiliating and funny at the same time. Finally the metro arrived , the doors opened and I got on, dragging the bags along. I needed to go only one stop so I waited by the doors, near the handicapped area. I drew looks from everyone only one stop and I was outta there!
Up the escalator to the street and I realized that it didnt look familiar to me Id taken this route many times before for meetings with friends. I was really getting tired. I wanted to find a cab. The security people directed me to the street and told me that I needed only to walk 250 meters from the metro to the train station. I realized then that I usually took the underground tunnel where there are moving sidewalks I was dazed from carrying the bags and I took the wrong escalator now I was above ground and needed to do the walk or go back down the steps. I decided to keep moving forward, not backward. I walked passed the crowded outdoor market, the motorcycles parked blocks long. Even on these very busy stretches of street, I was turning heads but no, not one person asked if I needed help along the entire route. This is truly to feel invisible!!!
I finally arrived to the platform for the train!!! I thought that I would have a heart attack!! I entered the train, put the bags on the seats around me and slumped into the seat. It took several minutes before I wanted to move more than that. After some time, I found some candy in my pocketbook and ate every morsel. The train pulled out of the terminal on the way home to Bracciano. On the way, I called Vicky to say that I was on the train and told her that the ladies at the registration desk strongly suggested getting her bags that day because there may not be any left the next day, the day of the race.
My car was parked at the station, so I needed only to go from the station to the parking lot. When I arrived home, I phoned some ladies in my town who registered and asked them to take their bags. They did and also helped me the next day to get the other bags back to Rome!! Well of course I needed to return with these bags the next day!!!!! I organized them differently into a n Ikea shopping bag with handles that was much easier to navigate with the help of another pair of hands. These ladies were lifesavers.
I'll know better for next year. But I did it!!! I was determined to do it!!! I got those bags from Rome to Bracciano and back to Rome. And they thought the 5K was a Race???!!!!
Ive been sharing this story to a few friends and I thought that maybe you might enjoy the laugh too
I volunteered to be the captain for my team (American Womens Association of Rome) for Race for the Cure in Rome on the 21st of May. It was a good experience on many levels. Im the type of person who takes responsibility seriously probably TOO seriously if you get my meaning .. Feeling the duty to encourage as many people as possible to participate and donate, I offered to register on-line and pick up their race bags . Ready for them on the day of the race. an incentive to sign up!
Wellllll this was welcomed by almost ALL who were running. And WHAT did I know!!!! It was my first time participating myself!!!
I thought I was prepared . The week before the race, I asked about the size of the bags when I talked with the organizers it seemed manageable to pick them up .
The day before the race, I went to the Race Village expecting to spend the morning casually strolling around .getting to know where to meet with people the next day to visit with my surgeon and the other volunteers have a capaccino and cornetta and relax a little bit .. HA!!!
I arrived early and found my way to the registration tables. Their were many ladies behind the table and they were just beginning their work. I began a conversation with one of them in my best Italian. She nodded and them asked that I follow her to another lady down the way a bit I began again in my broken Italian and the lady answered first in Italian then began to speak perfect English. this made it easier for both of us .
The ladies at registration were delighted with my organization a check off list of participants shirt sizes we were moving right along one lady checked the paperwork with me while the other brought the bags the each of them looked around me and asked, Do you have help?. I answered innocently , No, Im alone why? The two ladies looked at each other in disbelief and suggested, Maybe you could call someone to come help you? and they pointed to the bags that had been piled for me to take away .along with the line of people that had now formed behind me waiting to get through their check in. GEEEEESE! A few of the very generous sponsors donated creams, sun lotion and sun block for the skin wonderful , thoughtful gifts for the ladies . And they WEIGHED a lot!!! .. each bag was 2 lbs EACH ... I was there to pick up16 !!!!! Then she gave me my receipt for my Survivor Bag she said, Youll love to hear this you need to go to another place to get another bag!!!.
I asked first Can I leave these here until tomorrow? They apologized and said No, because there is no place to put where than would be safe .only one security guard for the Village isnt a guarantee that youll find them tomorrow.. Shocked I went to me cell phone and began to call for help but who to call?! My husband had surgery for an umbilical hernia only days before and wasnt permitted to lift weight. It was Saturday morning and no one wanted to come into Rome on a Saturday morning after working there all week they wanted only to be home .I thought Ill try Vicky she was last minute to sign up and wanted her bags. Vicky, Hi, its Marilyn . And I told her the story ..and Vicky, I couldnt take even one more bag, so Im sorry but Im not able to pick up your bags for you .I realize its last minute, but . Then Vicky tried to collect her thoughts and said, Ohhh Marilyn, ohhhh, ummmm, Im sorry, I can t get there now .. . Its OK, I understand, its so last minute and I was not organized for this Ill try Peggy or Vivian thanks anyway. .. and then another Peggy, Hi its Marilyn . And again the story Ohhh Marilyn I would come to help but Im not in Italy until Tuesday did you try Pat who lives nearby? . .. thanks Peggy see you when you get back. Ringggggggggggg no answer! . Argggghh! Vivian! Shell help .. Ringgggggggg no answer ! .. Double Arggghhh!
One of the ladies came from behind the table with three large trash bags she found, and helped me to put into them the 16 smaller bags. I resigned myself to the fact that I was going to find a way to deal with this. As the lady walked back to the table she said Someone owes you a very good dinner!! I struggled with the bags and found my way to the Survivor Tent. just around the corner.
I walked into the Tent and every head turned around. I asked if I could sit down .Certemente! (certainly!) I gave her the receipt for my bag, and she brought a lovely little pink bag with . Yes, you guessed it . More gifts! Because we are special the lady explained!!!! Yikeeeeee! I tried again with the cell phone but no help was available. I thought to myself .. Ive dealt with harder things in my life I can DO this!!! I tied two of the bags together . Ohhhh , I forgot to mention earlier . I brought a back pack with me to use to return with some bags . !!!! I was able to put two in the back pack!!! So cute! !! One of the ladies realized what I was doing and offered to help. She asked the same questions as the ladies at the registration desk, then asked What are you going to do? I said, Im going to find my way to the street hail a cab . Go to the train station and return home. It seemed simple I only needed to struggle with the bags to the street or so this was my plan!!!
I needed to get the bags from Rome back to Bracciano by TRAIN!!! and subway!!!! Driving and parking in Rome is next to impossible everything youve ever heard about Italian drivers is true and then some not to mention the Vespers and motorcycle like little mosquitoes, buzzing past, and around, and sometimes . it even seems over you!!! Sooooo, public trans is the best choice and I like it under normal circumstances. This travel is one and one half hours not including walking to the stations!! So I began the trek ... I thought often to other challenges I've faced .... this had to be the least of them.
I tried to hail a cab Imagine me standing on the side of the road, a grey-haired lady donning my pink Breast Cancer hat (from Philadelphia by the way) . Holding my ever so cute, pink, Survivor Bag and three, large, green , and full trash bags!!! Would YOU pick me up??!! The cabs passed me by ... so I walked to the subway station , stopping frequently to adjust the weight or simply rest awhile.
I walked down the steps to the metro station . Before I arrived to the turn stiles, a young man from inside the booth came out and stopped me Seniora, che e dentro le borse? (Miss, what is inside the bags?) Great!!!! I thought . Just what I needed they stopped me for a security check!!!! I was breathless, hot, tired and I gave him a fully conscious look that was between Please dont make my day any worse and Dont mess with me, young man! Again, my Italian is not the best, and he became frustrated with it so he spoke English. When I showed him the bags, he waived me on. By then, I needed to rest a little bit anyway so I said No, really its OK look I want to see what s in here too! They shared glances with each other of Boy do we have a live one here! After a little bit, I made my way to the platform and let down the bags the metro would arrive in three minutes according to the sign.
Remember the picture in your mind of me hailing the cab? Now, there happened to be two tourist across the tracks on the opposite platform looking bewildered at me. Then he took out his camera oh yes . This tourist took a picture of me from across the platform!!! How humiliating and funny at the same time. Finally the metro arrived , the doors opened and I got on, dragging the bags along. I needed to go only one stop so I waited by the doors, near the handicapped area. I drew looks from everyone only one stop and I was outta there!
Up the escalator to the street and I realized that it didnt look familiar to me Id taken this route many times before for meetings with friends. I was really getting tired. I wanted to find a cab. The security people directed me to the street and told me that I needed only to walk 250 meters from the metro to the train station. I realized then that I usually took the underground tunnel where there are moving sidewalks I was dazed from carrying the bags and I took the wrong escalator now I was above ground and needed to do the walk or go back down the steps. I decided to keep moving forward, not backward. I walked passed the crowded outdoor market, the motorcycles parked blocks long. Even on these very busy stretches of street, I was turning heads but no, not one person asked if I needed help along the entire route. This is truly to feel invisible!!!
I finally arrived to the platform for the train!!! I thought that I would have a heart attack!! I entered the train, put the bags on the seats around me and slumped into the seat. It took several minutes before I wanted to move more than that. After some time, I found some candy in my pocketbook and ate every morsel. The train pulled out of the terminal on the way home to Bracciano. On the way, I called Vicky to say that I was on the train and told her that the ladies at the registration desk strongly suggested getting her bags that day because there may not be any left the next day, the day of the race.
My car was parked at the station, so I needed only to go from the station to the parking lot. When I arrived home, I phoned some ladies in my town who registered and asked them to take their bags. They did and also helped me the next day to get the other bags back to Rome!! Well of course I needed to return with these bags the next day!!!!! I organized them differently into a n Ikea shopping bag with handles that was much easier to navigate with the help of another pair of hands. These ladies were lifesavers.
I'll know better for next year. But I did it!!! I was determined to do it!!! I got those bags from Rome to Bracciano and back to Rome. And they thought the 5K was a Race???!!!!
Comments
-
Oh wow Marilyn! What a story!! I've been to Rome so I know what you are describing with the traffic, the congestion and the lack of help!! It's somewhat incredible that you did all of that and no one offered to help you with the bags, let alone stop to pick you up!!
You rock woman. You have done more for the cause in that task alone...let alone a 5K walk!!
You went through that agonizing journey, and you still have your humour intact!! You are a hero with what you accomplished, and doing it with grace and humour.
Pat yourself on the back Marilyn! -
LOL
Oh, my goodness, what
a fiasco this was for you.
Still, you carried on
and think of all those photos
those folks took.. my word!!
no one stopped to help
Not Nice at all
Well, here's to you, Marilyn.
I salute you!
Hugs -
sheer determination! i love it...........what an inspiring story!
-
Hi all,
Thanks so much for your comments ladies ... It was fun to write this ... in fact, it wrote itself .. my fingers just flew ...
By the way .... 25,000 people came to that event!
I had an idea to name the 2K Walk next year .... the Arimidex Shuffle ... what do you think? Maybe we can start a fad ... remember the Stroll?
I'm so glad that you enjoyed this with me.
Best regards,
Marilyn -
What a day !
No one should get in the way of a determined woman ! -
Bless you. I was so tired after reading your post, I took a nap.
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