1964-1974--what a difference 10 years makes--My wonderful Flo

1956--I
was 20--had celebrated my 5th Leap Year birthday--and now I was on
Hollywood Boulevard with my duffel bag on my shoulder, wearing my Marine
Corps shirt, trousers, shoes and my thumb up in the air. I was starting
my 3rd decade of life by hitchhiking to Florida planning to surprise my
Aunt Flo--my father's sister--who I hadn't seen since I was a kid. Back
then she was visiting in New York and promised to take me to Chinatown
which she never did. She lived in Miami Beach, Florida, and I was going
to knock on her door without letting her knowing I was arriving and ask
her why she didn't take me to Chinatown.

I
remember my first ride was all the way through to Las Vegas where in a
half hour I lost every penny I had gambling. I remember picking up
someone in the casino--instinct?--and spent the night in his room. The
next morning, without  penny to my name, I was out on the road again,
and as to prove what happened through the whole trip, I didn't have to
wait long before  a car stopped and offered me a ride.

You
have to remember the world was different then, I was in uniform and
people were more willing to help. When we reached Albuquerque, Barry,
(yes, all these years later I remember his name, him) suggested we stop
for a bite to eat and I explained that I didn't have money. He laughed
and said, "I sure know how to pick them. You don't have money and you
don't know how to drive. Well, at least your a good talker."  He said he
had to stop in El Paso to do some business and would stay there
overnight.  He said that since the room would be paid for and that it
didn't make a difference if one or two guys stayed in it I was welcome
to spend the evening with, which I did.

There
was a lot of kindness shown me on that trip from Hollywood to Miami
Beach and it would take a long post to tell all of it so I will just
briefly tell you of two other incidents that happened. I remember waking
up on a beach in Panama City hungry, thirsty and, in all probability,
looking like the bum I was. There was a fishing pier with a bait and
snack shop that was owned, I later found out, by a husband and wife. I
explained my situation to them and without hesitation the woman told me
to use the bathroom in back to clean up while she fixed me something to
eat. I explained that I wasn't looking for a handout, that I was willing
to work for food and a couple of dollars which is what happened. The
'labor' wasn't hard, sweeping around the store, stocking a few shelves,
washing dishes and some of the wares they had for sale. When I was ready
to go the man slipped a twenty dollar bill in my pocket and told me
where the best place to stand wastoget a ride and I got one almost
immediately. By the way I don't remember their names but I do remember
sending them a twenty and a thank you card a few months later when I was
working.

My
last ride from Panama City to Miami Beach was a long, hot one and in
the back of a fish truck filled with dead fish and loads of ice and to
this day I remember that 8-9 hour drive. The two men driving the truck
apologized and said they just didn't have room up front but that we
would be stopping frequently to make deliveries which we would give me a
breaks. The husband and wife explained that it wouldn't be easy getting
a ride for that stretch  and so there I was. I remember being hungry
and thirsty, taking the ice that smelled of fish, sucking on it and
almost having sushi without even knowing what that meant! The guys had
brought their own lunch along and each gave me some of their
sandwiches.  I always have, and always will, remember Blanche in
Tennessee Williams' play talking about 'depending upon the kindness of
strangers' and I will be the first to admit they came through for me. I
hope that I have done the same for othersoverthe years.

I
will never, ever forget the look on Flo's face when she opened the door
and saw me for the first time in 10 years. When she realized who I was
she said, "I don't know whether to throw you in the shower, feed you or
let you get some sleep." Flo did all three and so much more over the
coming years. I've written about her before, telling about our
relationship, and you can look it up in my archives or, if you want,
remind me when I am finished with this series and I'll post it again.

Flo
was the first person to ever love me unconditionally and the first
person I loved unconditionally and that was such a good lesson for me to
learn as I hadn't experienced that the first 20 years of my life. And,
yes, she took me (and Pepe) to Chinatown 8 years later when she came up
to Queens and stayed with us in Sunnyside where we lived at the time.

My
trip from Hollywood, California, to Miami Beach, Florida was the start
of a roller coaster ride for 10 years from 1956 to 1966, in which a lot
happened.

(TO BE CONTINUED)

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"If you do not change direction,

you will end up

where you are going."

Loo Tzu
(Maria's cards)