First I know you think I am full of shit....I see the Caps and your dates and all But, it is true. I was born in Queens, NY and my father owned a company that took us all thru New York City. I would travel with my father since I was old enough to walk just about. Spent all my vacations from school working with my dad. Anyway back then attendants pumped your gas and checked your oil if you asked, most even gave you gifts for filling up your tanks. Beach Towels, glasses, all kinds of things.
Any way I was a young kid and was really getting a kick out of using the gas pump. ( yea funny what is fun when you are a kid) My job was to fill the truck up before they put it away at night. Anyway they pulled in and since I was there waiting by the pump I just grabed it and when the driver said fill it up I just went ahead and did it. I always did a bunch of cars why waiting for my father to finish as he and Pete the station owner were long time friends. My dad kept all his trucks in the compoud behind the station and the last thing of the day was to check up on all the trucks and drivers and make sure everyone was back, gased, hooked up and ready to go for the next day.
Well, anyway they did not paid for the gas because thay charged on an account. One man when in to sign but the older guy in the back of the car called me over... he handed me a crisp $10.00 and pressing it into myy hand said "Hey Kid... your a good worker, you dad must be proud of ya". "This is for you"... Do you know what $10.00 was like back then. BIG BUCKS. The car fill up wasn't that much. I didn't know who he was, but boy... ten whole dollars sure made me take notice.
After they left I showed my dad what the guy in the back sit of the car gave me...He at first thought it was to pay for the gas that I had pumped. He took it away from me and handed it Pete. I told him that he gave it to ME! and he couldn't believe anyone would give a kid something like that. Old Pete then told him that they were a charge account and that the guy who gave me the money was Carlo Gambio himself. He never got out of the car...what's the big deal I thought (Hey $$) until Pete started to explain to me who he was and then told some stories to my father as I listened. Welcome to the true underworld.

We got home and my dad was telling my mother about my big payoff from the mob. If you remember back when I posted about first reading about the Godfather from sneaking into my parents roon and reading the book on her nightstnd. That was how life was back then and how quickly a young kid was drawn in...

If you don't beleive me that is fine...I don't have to prove things to anyone. I will tell you also that I've met John Goti, been there when the mob used pressure tactics and I bet I am the only one on this board in later years with a number of photos of myself in FBI files...hahhaha True, all true and maybe when I feel like it I will share those with you. I'm not trying to brag, thats not my point. Maybe I'm saying more then I should. Funny how paths cross in life.

But now you know why an " older" person like myself likes to hang around this board and its subject and reads, watches and listens to the stories....and now that I have been here for some time and have gotten to know some of you I just mite loosen up alittle bit more....No I don't mean the humor!