When I was working a dead end receptionist job after leaving my life behind to come home, I met a character that could only exist in the movies. Or so I thought, I never believed I would become the understudy to a mobster.
So back in the day, I was pretty street smart but I always was the kinda gal who accepted people for who they are now, not who they were, or who they will become.
I see people at this very moment.
Always have, always will.
No judgment, no preconceived notions, no limits….. If you meet me, I will see you as you are in that moment of time.
So meeting the Godfather was not a big deal to me.
For me it was a grouchy old man who barked a lot of orders and if he liked you, well you were a good kid and he barked a little less.
He liked me, so I didn’t get too much flack, but he also knew I was completely fine with who he was, and I didnt judge him, nor did I fear him.
He was an old cranky guy, and I could handle that.
The Godfather took me under his wing. He offered me a good job, and taught me a lot about business and how to conduct myself.
He taught me to toughen up and not take shit from anyone.
He also taught me to step on someone’s throat if necessary, literally.
So I got a world of education. In exchange I got stories about amazing times. I learned about his grandfather being in the Black Hand.
About his family from Sicily, and about the wild parties they used to throw in the 50’s.
He told me stories about how he used to hire the Rat Pack as entertainment for the parties, and how he introduced a famous Hollywood actress to her husband…. The stories were amazing.
The Godfather was good to me. He was a tough man, and he did not spare me when it came to teaching me a lesson.
He was very harsh, believing you need to tear someone down before you can build them up.
I think part of that was from military service.
He was a very fierce fighter in the Korean War, seeing a lot of hand to hand combat and he had the scars to prove it. I even briefly saw his letter of service when I had to retrieve files for him.
I knew everything about him, or at least most of it. There were of course things I knew he wouldn’t tell me, never the specifics, but he knew I was smart enough to put the pieces together.
I think that is what he respected most about me.
He knew I knew…. Nothing more needed to be said.
Over the years I worked for him, then he made sure I went back to school to get a better education. He made sure I was taken care of and kept me focused on what was important.
He did a lot for me, even if his techniques were harsh and bordered on abusive at times. I mean I wasn’t a soldier in the military, I was a girl trying to sort out life and start over.
I miss the Godfather. But at the same time, my life is more peaceful since I last saw him.
He suffered a stroke. His health declined and his mental capacity suffered as well.
For many years my Mom and I kept contact, trying to visit when we could.
But at some point his family moved him, and we never found out where. His phone number changed, and we lost contact.
My mom died in the meantime.
I never had the heart to try and find the Godfather, I think telling him what happened would break his heart.
I would rather think of him cursing me out as a rotten fucking kid who stopped calling….. Then to tell him the truth.
But in my heart, I do miss him.