[Dixielandjazz] Doing Your Own Thang

[Stephen Barbone]

List mates:

Here's a story my Italian grandfather used, to teach me about "listening
to critics".

An old man, a boy and a donkey were going from Bagno Irpino to Nusco.
(In Campania, not too far from Naples)  The boy rode on the donkey and
the old man walked. As they went along they passed some people who
remarked it was a shame the old man was walking and the boy was riding.

The man and boy thought maybe the critics were right,  so they switched places.

Later,  they passed some other people who remarked; "what a shame,  he
makes that little boy walk. "Then they decided they both would walk.

Soon they passed some people who thought they were stupid to walk when
they had a decent donkey to ride.  So,  they both rode the donkey.

Now they passed some people that shamed them by saying how awful to put
such a load on a poor donkey.  The boy and man thought they were
probably right,  and so they decided to carry the donkey.

As they crossed the bridge over the river,  they lost their grip on the
animal and he fell into the river and drowned.

The point?

If you try to please all the critics,  you may as well kiss your ass good-bye.


Cheers,
Steve Barbone