I got to put my 2 cents in here! When you reach my age of 89, the word sex just becomes a number that comes after 5 and what only follows it, is Sev…. Sev…He…Heaven.
Day: April 11, 2022
I had a dream!
Using talk to text:
I sometimes wonder if people who die, immediately come back as another person. Something to consider as heaven may be somewhere that is not easy to get to, if you have not done good the first time around. You’re gonna have to try the second time around and the third time around till you get it right! Whatever. However, Claire was heavenly all her life especially after we met and I was able to give all I had, mainly, my love.
So in my dream I’m somewhere just in another place, and I bump into this woman and we look at each other and we seem to like each other. We talk a little bit about nothing, but then she asked me if I would like to go out for a cup of coffee? Or was it tea? I said well OK! so we we start walking looking for a place to have coffee. We find one and go in and as we go in I find my hand go to my wallet which is not there, never is in my dreams, wow!!! I don’t have money I look at my pants pocket and and it has change, all kinds of change! I said well at least I can pay with a lot of change. I just stand there because of the excitement and not having money. I was lost as this woman could’ve been Claire!! She could’ve been her, in a new body because why would I even be interested in even looking at a woman unless she appeared to have Claire’s sense of being. Well let’s see maybe tonight I’ll finish the dream but I’m gonna make sure I have my wallet in my pocket, but how do I do that? I don’t know I don’t worry as it’s the first time I even thought of a another woman, but it was in a dream and I had no choice, as I was in the dream and you don’t tell the dream what to do. A dream does what it wants to do an all you can do is experience it. So tonight I will find out if I really am not interested in another woman I have my woman, Claire’s my woman, but maybe Claire’s come back to me in another body! I have no way to know and will see what happens! I’ll keep this thing going. OK, I got to stop here though bye!!! This was spoken to my phone happenstance!
Right after that dream I had to record the dream as I remembered it! Since Claire died I have always just been devastated and in that Dream I actually felt something for that woman! Crazy!!!
Meeting Claire for the first time, then reading a book she wrote!
ARAMIS:
This picture of my Aramis, this exact bottle I bought on the day I met her, begins the story of how I met Claire and how our lives together got closer and closer for over 26 years. I’m writing this now, as I want to put this true, wonderful life story on our site on the internet called “HandstoGod.com”!
A bottle of aftershave that changed my life! A bottle of Aramis that changed Claire Bubenday Cuni’s life! So here is the true story of my life when I was alone after my divorce. I won’t talk about the next woman in my life as it was a disaster and taught me to be careful, maybe too careful. So, living alone in a small home I bought on Fire Island, N.Y. My life consisted of seeing my sons and having a great dog called Quattro, having family and friends come to stay and enjoy the ocean, beaches, and great food that I made. All was just great now that I had all that a man can ask for… I thought!!!
Then it happened, but I didn’t know it happened, as being now a little unsure of myself I met a woman who really made my life heaven on earth. How? You ask! Well, one day I called my great and funny cousin Al, and asked him if he knew where I could buy my aftershave, ARAMIS, as I just ran out. He turned and asked his wife, Fran, and she said Macy’s is the best place for perfume and stuff. I then asked, not being from Long Island, and only knowing how to get from Manhattan to Fire Island, always with a stop at Al’s, and nothing else. So, Fran yells to the phone, I’ll take you, just come to our house, and I did and My life changed from that moment on……….Wow!
When we arrived at the perfume counter a saleswoman was just finishing another customer and turned to me saying “Can I help you”, actually looking at Fran, and not me. While this was happening, I was looking at a beautiful woman passing behind the saleslady. I turned to her and excitedly asked who is that woman? She said that she walked the department showing different perfumes to browsing customers. Again I said, Excitedly! Can I meet her? She said we’re not allowed to tell other people their names unless we ask them first! But, honestly, how can you ask about her when your wife is standing next to you. I said “She’s my cousin’s wife, and just helping me buy Aramis! So she turned to the woman and asked “Claire, This gentleman would like to know your name, can I tell him? Claire turned and looked at me undecidedly, and asked “Where is he from?” I yelled to her, I just bought a home on Fire Island and don’t know anybody. At first, she was startled for a second, and then said it was ok. This was the beginning, “The beginning of a beautiful friendship, love story, and life adventure that lasted 25 years!!
I asked if I could have her phone number, and again, she hesitated and I jumped in and said I’d just like to take you to lunch! She said we can have lunch one day at Friendly’s next door if you like… Wow! I said any time, that is, once I learn how to get here. That meeting later over lunch told me I wanted to see her more and more. Naturally, I finally got her phone number, but made a few mistakes thereafter, and here is where I would like to bring in Claire’s version on the next stage of our relationship.
This is the most precious picture of Claire as it is her, at her best! She doesn’t even like beer but here she is acting as though she loves it. This is why she always is loved by everyone because she never wants to displease
Isn’t she just beautiful in her way of just simply smiling!
After writing about my first meeting with Claire, Her friends messaged me after I wrote it and their comments about that time are interesting as it gives different points of view of the event.
Trudy, a co-worker at Macy’s:
Hi Sal, I remember that day, she told me that she just met a nice man out in Macy’s, where she sold Aramis and that he asked if she would join him for lunch in Kismet! We smiled, and I said ‘go, you have nothing to lose’! Well, Claire had a great time, she said that she really liked you, you seemed a little eccentric, but she right away felt a connection! There were many more times in Fire island,- Saltaire … and Claire started the happiest times of her life with you!
This is what my younger sister Nanette remembers of this story as she just sent it to me.
Yes, your love story is exactly how I remembered you telling me, because I came to Fire Island after your relationship was still at the “budding” stage, not yet “blooming”, as I recall. You were still “searching” and Claire had confided in me one day that she was there, as she said she cared about you a lot and wanted to be #1, but she, too, had to be sure. Not sure if I ever told you that, but she and I had that conversation when we had walked the beach with Quattro. You were busy!
Finding Claire’s Book one week after her death :
I’m reading this from a book that Claire had kept without my knowing, and in the book, it tells of her version of us meeting. Her life at that time, and so I would like to bring this book onto the site because it explains her feelings! So to begin:
Claire writing…
Now he is in California at a wedding on January 11,1997 and also to visit his mother. I just love the way he thinks. He has so much love to give. He is so loving. Just the way he looks at me. When he takes my face in his hands and holds it and kisses me. He just loves life. I am so grateful that I met him. He is the light of my life right now. I have had such a great time with him. If it rains now I would be sad, but also thankful for the great time we had together. Going to the beach, walking to the ocean, and having lunch. Him cooking for me, serving me, making chicken soup for me. Dancing with me. Introducing me to Cointreau, a beautiful drink I love, and good wine. I really could learn to love him. He is much too good to be true. He is in California then comes to Florida then to Philadelphia right now it’s one 6097 I hope he comes home today and calls me. I love to hear his voice. He is such a happy person. Even with his personal loss in 1996 when the love of his life left him, he said he was paralyzed I can’t compete with that. I just hope he heals, and learns to forget so we can be happy. I am just glad to be part of his life for a short time. He makes me feel good. Which I need desperately. He thinks I am beautiful! He says he can’t find anything wrong with me. He thinks I am great. I wish I could’ve met him years ago. It’s not his looks so much, it’s his heart. It’s now 11/7/1997, Sal called me at 9 AM he came back from California and Philadelphia he said could he come over for coffee. He stayed about an hour. It was good to see him. He wants to go to Saltaire. I said yes, but Nancy, my friend, called me and told me that her son Loni, who is a captain on the ferry. He said they canceled all ferries for the weekend because it’s too cold and the bay is frozen. I called his cell phone and left a message. I had a good day today. Sal came to see me and the girls, especially Nancy who gave me a beautiful cake and a beautiful silver heart. Nancy said because they love me, that’s why they gave me the heart, and I I thought I would just put down how I’m feeling. It’s 1996 not such a bad year financially, it could be better. I have been on my own now since 1995. It’s a great feeling. It’s nice to be by myself. Not to have to answer to anyone or check for anyone. I can eat when I want, sleep when I want and do what I want.
Well I moved from North Babylon to Bayshore New York because my daughter Angela wanted to move in with her boyfriend( husband now) in North Babylon they could not have Cody, their dog, with them. So, I moved here. I hate it here! So now I am looking for another place to live. Hopefully, I can find one. Right one which allows dogs. It’s June 1997 I also changed jobs from Macy’s makeup, to South Bay OB/GYN. Then to Hearex, on January 27, 1997. It should be great. I also have a friend. In October 1996 I met Sal Bianco, what a great guy. He is tender and caring. He has a great heart. He is so good to everyone. He has a house on Fire Island, in the town of Saltaire. I have been there many times. He is great, he cooks for me, and even massages my back. He also has a great dog called Quattro a yellow Lab. He loves his dog, and he has three sons and he loves his sons, isn’t it great. He is always traveling on business; he has an office in Connecticut.
On 2/2/97 we did go to Saltaire after all, as Sal’s cousin Al drove us to parking Field five, and the security guard from Saltaire picked us up at five, and drove us to Sal’s home. He is such a nice young man. He is getting married in July. The weekend was great. The pipes froze and he fixed it. He cooked for us again, he made breakfast in bed, made lunch, I keep thinking it can’t be real. He is too good to me. He called me at 9 o’clock tonight. He made me feel really good. He seemed excited to talk to me. We are planning to go to the city from Saturday until Sunday to stay at the Hyatt Inn, and I can’t wait. I love just the way he touches me, the way he does, he takes his hands and holds my face. He says I am pretty even without makeup. Not that it’s true but I feel good anyway when he tells me this. He is in Connecticut tonight and tomorrow, as he is going to New Jersey to see his sons, Michael and Trey. Michael’s girlfriend left him again, for the second time, poor guy. I started my new job on Monday, January 7th, and I am excited. I go into Manhattan at 9 AM. This should be good yea! ”Yea” (she always raises her hands high when she says “Yea)
He makes me feel so good I feel like I am in heaven! (she has drawn a happy face next to it.
( And as I read it again, I saw that happy face, and I burst out crying and crying saying to her how I miss Her!)
On 2/8/97 I started my new job and went to Riverhead instead of Manhattan. Today I went to Islandia. I got to use the computer, to address the patients, answer the phone and use the copier, and it was one of the bosses who said that I did a great job.
Sal and I went to Manhattan on Saturday to eat in a little Italian restaurant. ( Il Cortille)The meal was wonderful. From there we went to the Hyatt hotel to register and then we went to the World Trade Center. To the windows of the world, on top looking over everything, but it was very foggy so we could not see anything. But we had a great time anyway. I tried sushi. Sal fixed it for me and then I tried raw oysters. They were great and Sal fixed it for me. He is so good to me and spoils me.
From there we walked to Broadway Times Square, to see if we could get tickets. We got tickets for Miss Saigon. It was good, but it made me a little sad. Because of the war situation.(Don’t forget she was 2 when it started in Europe and Bomb holes were where she played into its water!)From there we walked back but it was real cold so we stopped to eat at a great place called Limoncello’s Italian place. It was great. Then we went to the hotel. He is great. In the morning we had breakfast on the floor then, we went home. We went to Fran’s house. They are such a nice couple. Then Sal took me to Château La Mer in Lindenhurst. We had such a good time. Fran and I talked a lot. She told Sal that I am the best for him because she likes me. A great wonderful weekend thank you Sal.
Thank you God! 3/4/1997 I just talked to Sal. He called me back from last night. I called him last night. He never called me back so he called me to apologize for not calling me back. He knows I am going into surgery. He had plans to go to China so he is going on Friday the seventh or on Monday the 10th. He will be back in 10 to 15 days so it will be the end of the month.
We were talking and all of a sudden he said well don’t expect me to be there this weekend. He gets me angry sometimes when he says that. I always get the feeling that he pulls away. When he goes to Connecticut or on a trip I didn’t know why. He makes me feel bad
5/19/ 97 I called Sal in the morning to wish you a good day. I have been seeing Sal every week and weekend. It has been great! I had my surgery on 14 March. Robert took me and 8 AM to the house. He is my son. My daughter Angela came and picked me up at 3 o’clock. She stayed with me all night. Sal came and picked me up in the morning at 9:30 AM to go to Saltaire, he was great, he took care of me.
3/30/97-Happy Easter!
I spent Saturday on Fire Island with Sal. He made a leg of lamb and it was great! I went to Robert’s for Easter, Angela and Perry too. It was OK. I went to Fire Island last weekend too. I think I feel kind of sad right now. Gloria, my friend, told me that Fran’s friend is Carol Malone’s sister, and that Sal has a girlfriend in New Mexico called Susan. I don’t know about her. She has two kids, and he told me about her. He likes her and says he doesn’t love her. I am trying to be very cool about this one. I like him and he is very good to me and good for me. I know he doesn’t love me and I don’t love him. But I could love him easily if I let myself. Good friends more than good friends, but it still hurts me to know that he still talks to her and has her phone number and work number on his phone but I keep thinking I have been seeing him since October 20 and has been the happiest time of my life. We had a great time together. We laugh all the time, we are good for each other. I get scared and don’t know what to do. PS, it was such a great weekend
April 15, 1997 it has been almost 6 months since Sal and I met. Has been great. We had a long serious talk. I told him about Susan and what Gloria told me about her being his girlfriend. He said he saw her five times over the summer and in January once!. He said he liked her but he is not in love with her. He told her not to call anymore so I feel much better.
May 1, 1997 well we had to put Cody to sleep! I was very sad and trumatic that day. It broke my heart. To see her run down the stairs to the car. If she only knew what we were doing. She almost seemed to perk up when she was feeling better, but she was really sick, poor thing. At the Vets, she got out of her collar twice like she wanted to run. God! That broke my heart. At least she’s at peace now. It was awful for her in this apartment at 62 West Oakdale, Bayshore Please Cody, forgive me. I hope that you enjoyed the beach on fire Island tap. You had a good time there every weekend, so did i. I love you Cody, rest in peace. {Here I, Sal, started crying, as she drew a heart.}
10/19/1997 I haven’t written for a while. It’s been a whole year since we met and started dating. Things are good and bad. I don’t know what to do. But I think about it. if I didn’t have him I would be sitting home alone. So I guess it’s OK. I wish for someone that would love me, and would want to be with me. I guess it’s not meant to be that way. Sal’s sister is here from California (Nanette). It was Sal’s birthday on October 15. We celebrated it on Saturday, October 11 at Franny’s house. I bought a cake and 2 dungaree shirts and Aramis shampoo from Quattro. He loved it all! We were on fire Island on Sunday and came back on Monday early, because Mr. Yeung, who is Sal’s worker that Sal has been taking care of, bought him a new house in Brooklyn. Mr. Yeung came from Connecticut with his wife. We showed him around Bayshore. I took his wife and Sal’s sister, Annette, shopping. She said some harsh things about Sal. I don’t know if I can trust her.(note here: Nanette was told by my X that Claire was not good for me and other stuff that Annette believed until recently I told her what was really was the truth.)
Today is 10/19/97
On Sunday, I did not hear from him. I talked to him on Friday a.m. the last time. I don’t understand why he can’t call me! But his sister is still here and he has someone he has to do stuff with. I guess I am good enough when no one’s around?
10/19/97
Well I quit Hear X, July 24. I received unemployment. That was a surprise, $201.00 dollars a week. Thank God. I was off for two months. It was a great summer. Except for not having a job, I was supposed to work for Dr Mastrogramis, but the hospital did not want to hire a second person, so I went back to Macy’s on Friday and got a counter manager job for Christian Dior. It’s OK, I did not want to stand eight hours again. But I had to take it. $11.00 an hour plus 5% commission +1% override. Well, I hope it works for me!
1/24/98
Well I have not written for a while. I have been very busy. I am seeing Sal a lot. He is getting much better.
He is such a great guy. He is getting closer. Yet pulling away at the same time. He always makes it clear that he can’t love me because he feels nothing but the loss of his soul. When Elaine left she (had an affair). Sometimes I feel that I should not see him. But then I feel that he is so good to me. He treats me very well. He even said that he loves me in a different way. But he loves me. I just take one day at a time” and thank God for all the good things that happened to me. I have had a great year since I met Sal, and I am thankful for every day.
5/17/1998
I have not written for a long time. I’ve been very busy. There are a lot of changes in my life, big changes! Sal and I have been seeing a lot of each other. We went to Florida in January, met Al and Fran there, and also went to see Annmarie, who became a friend of mine. We had a great time. That was my first flight and it was great. He took me on vacation to Saint Thomas. It was fantastic! We ate, we danced, we went sightseeing. He bought me a beautiful pearl necklace and a bracelet in silver. We both had a great time.
I also quit Macy’s and I’m getting Social Security and unemployment now. It is very strange but great! Sal is in Fresno right now buying a Peterbilt truck, /He left Wednesday and is coming back on Monday the 18th. I went to Fire Island by myself, as Sal was away, on Monday and came back today. Sunday, the dogs got out. Kevin found them and put them in the house, Thank God they were found!
6/18/98 Monday.
Here I am again. I came off the island on Monday with Sal. He had to go to Connecticut to fix one of his houses where he is staying until Wednesday night or Thursday.
He came back Wednesday night and went straight to fire Island. I was a little hurt. He did not call, I called him and he was already there. I don’t like when he does that.
It almost seems cold. Then he said he is going to Trey’s house to help with the fence. Almost like I am going to be busy. I’m not going to see you. Kind of brushing me off. That hurts. Next week he is going to Chicago for business. I have to say last week I was with him almost all week. So maybe he feels he needs a break.
I should be grateful for all the good things that have come my way. Because of him I guess sometimes I want a little more of his love. Which I don’t think it’s ever going to be. But I thank God for all I have. The wonderful days at the beach, and the great meals he cooks for me.
Sal is now looking into buying a store as a florist in Sayville New York and I love that town.
6/19/98 Today is Friday night 12:10 in the evening. I am watching TV. I went to see Doctor today I was having some problems with my back. Kind of where my kidneys are. Sort of an ache every now and then the doctor said it could be kidney stones, so I have to go get a sonogram. So we’ll see what happens. I left there and picked Sal up at the ferry and the dogs. He went to see Mr. Young’s house in Brooklyn and then he left to go to Treys for the weekend. They are going to put up a fence and it’s Father’s Day, so it’s good he is with his sons.
6/20/98 I just get a funny feeling about Sal and me. Like he does not want to be around anymore. I will just have to see when he comes back. it may be just me. But I wish I could feel better about him. Sometimes he can be rude and a little cold and inconsiderate. Why can I find someone that wants me and loves me? I guess it’s not meant to be. To talk about happier things. My daughter Angela is getting married in May 28, of 1999. She had already chosen a wedding gown. Sal is going to pay for it and the head piece. ( Here I cried and Cried, telling her I’m sorry as I should have told how much I loved her)
7/17/98 Well here I am at home. The weather is kind of grey. Just like the mood I’m in. I should be happy, but I’m not. Because I guess I would like more. But he told me from the start,(actually after about a month of dating) that he doesn’t know what he wants and that he has no feelings and no soul. My luck, I could not find someone that loves me. He is a good person. He is good to me. But he cannot love me. Too bad, it would be great! Because I could fall in love with him.
Angela’s wedding plans are going great; her gown is ordered and paid for. she has her shoes, we have to order the veil. she has to call the photographer, the video. It’s going great!
7/31/98 Well things keep changing. He definitely wants to be friends only!. So I am going to have to live with it. I think I can. I seem to have the ability to adjust to almost anything. I’ll adjust myself, my way of thinking. Thank God I can do this. So, on we go., on to something else.
So Sal is getting me into a florist. He made an offer to the owner of the store for $180,000. The owner asked him for 199,000.00, 8.5% in 30 years. Now he wants 185 8.5% in 10 years. So Sal is trying to see what can be done. So I hope it happens. I am going to throw all my energy into this. Good luck!
8/14/98
Well it’s really happening! “Yea”( with her hands flinging in the air.) We put a binder on it on Thursday 8/13/98. I went to the Chamber of Commerce meeting on Wed. 8/12/98. It went great. I felt so good! Very positive, very confident with myself. I met “Rick Lazio”, the Congressman. All in all it was a great day!
“Claire the great”
Ha! Ha! Thank you, God! And thank you, Sal!
Angela and I are so happy to be able to work together! Sal sold his house in Connecticut. ($299,000.00). He also sold his house in Connecticut; he has one more to sell.
I also want to say here I had all my checkups with doctors and I am perfectly healthy! Thank God! How very lucky I am!!!!
!!!!!!! (THE END)!!!!!!
All this was written by her when we first met and I’m here now thinking after reading it, if she is here, I hope, seeing what I now write to her memory!
Hi! I’m Sal and can only say that I’ve never seen or read this till a week after Claire died 3/15/21, and now only because of the rings on her hand that were always on her hand, and now left in her drawer. So, I want Her three children to have these beautiful rings as they were always on her hand, and on a copy of her hand made by Michael 15 years ago. It’s hard for me to read this little book as we never held anything from each other. So I cannot understand why?
Actually, I think Claire felt so bad about some things about me that she wrote, she was now sorry for writing them, and didn’t want me to ever see them.
Actually, I understand why she wrote them because I truly was going through a shock myself(stupidly)! Me being dumped! Impossible! But it happened and I was 68/9, still me but fooled by what I could bring to the table.
I will cherish this book as long as I live and hope to show the world how truly wonderful a woman she was! I will get this and our other writings published, watch and see!! Says me, who? Why Sal Bianco Jr.!
9/13/21 I just finished editing it for my mistakes while transferring it from a book into this Claire’s real story of life. The book is real and I keep it by my side as I go to sleep, but only before I tell how I love her, kiss it and then go to sleep!
I think she felt it was all a mistake, cause as she learned of me, she truly fell in love! Me, like a ding dong was in love with her the moment I laid eyes on here, but didn’t know it. Please understand she went through a tough childhood, then a life in N.Y. without speaking English all by herself, and then a marriage that was hell as her in laws treated her poorly not allowing her mother into their home. then we met and both began a life of paradise, yes, truly paradise
Who was your best friends in high school and what were they like?
We’ll, because I went to a Catholic high school on 73rd street in Manhattan, called De La Salle Institute, with all French Christian Bothers as teachers, it was hard for me to make friends as all the students attending were Irish and from Riverdale, N Y, a very rich community!! However, having to take the subway and elevated trains daily, I noticed a boy like myself get off the train at the same station and walk to my same school as I walked! One day as we walked to school, I stopped him and told him that we both went to the same High school and got on at the same train
station, that maybe we could do it together! From that day on we became close friends! His advantage was he was Irish, and as I was the only Italian in the school it was hard for me to make friends. His name was Henry, but I can’t remember his last! I helped him in the French class, as I was able relate many words I learned in Italian from my grandparents! Actually, my math was unbelievable just like my fathers, so during recess, I would have a group of boys that needed help in math! Henry and I did everything together in school, but never socially! At that age, 14/15/16, I was under 5’ and about 70 Lbs., not good for a Italian boy in an Irish school! However, I was left handed and never ever lost a fight no matter how big another boy might be! My reputation was eventually learned by the Brothers and they would have me meet them in The park about a mile away from school alongside the Hudson River! Then proceeded to try to beat me up! They did it for fun, but they learned it was not so much fun, cause as big as they were, they could never put me down! Henry and I graduated together when I was only 17! But the next year
when we went to the second annual graduation party, I was 6’2” tall.
Our changing world, it keeps changing!
I wrote this a few weeks ago, after realizing how my world has been changing!
What happened to companies like A&P stores and F.W.Woolworths?
HI: My family had a trucking business that handled all A&P meat deliveries to all their warehouses. I knew many many people from the A&P and it was a very honest and reliable company. My father who ran our little trucking company, Bianco Bros trucking, knew most of the executives of the company and they gave our little company a chance to grow. Like all companies at that time they had to face new companies that had new ways to shop. “MALLS”. In malls where people now went to shop, because you were able to shop for all your needs at one time in one place… even on Sunday. So Companies like A&P, F.W. Woolworths had to change their strategies. The financial men in these companies realized that it was the real estate where all their stores were located, that had become very valuable for another reason, it was the growing population and the value of the land properties they had was worth more in value and by just closing the stores and selling off the properties there was more to gain than what the stores produced, and so, that’s what most old companies did. Both A&P and Woolworths closed all their stories and used the money in different ways, like opening new little chains that sold one product, like shoe stores, or clothing stores and so they created profits in a new way. The end of an era! Now, in 2020, it’s the shopping malls that are closing all over America, as there is a new way to shop, and it’s online shopping that has now taken over, and Companies like Amazon have become the giants in the field.
Has anyone noticed that no longer do you see American English names on products? China has now said that Americans will use what we sell, as they have no other place to buy products of any kind. Sorry to have to go in another direction, but America is no longer the greatest country in the world, but China and Asian countries are supplying the world with products they produce and know that now they have control on how all is being done.
The young life of my wonderful wife
I just found a little true story of my daring stupidity!
Hey guys I just found a little true story of my daring stupidity! Although my life has been very exciting, there have been ACCIDENTAL incidences that I have had happen to me in my lifetime that we’re serious at times, but funny thinking about them now:
Stick in the eye: when I was about 11 or so, my friends and I would play like we were in King Arthur’s Army and made our own bow and arrows. We made them from a weedy bush that had branches with offshoot that would easily snap off and that end rounded and was used the part that was attached to the bow. There were bigger branches we were able to cut with my mother’s knife. These we fashioned into a bow. We then would play by shooting arrows at each other. They didn’t go far or straight, but it was fun anyway. One day playing with them, I was shot at and instead of hitting me in my body it hit my eye, but not the eyeball but just beside it going into the socket. Wow It hurt but I grabbed the arrow and pulled it out. For the next two weeks my eye was black and blue as well as my butt, after my Mom got through with me!
Tongue cut almost completely off: When I was 12 or 13, now living on 205th me and all the boys on our street, in the Bronx started playing street hockey, but following our own rules as we really didn’t know the professional ones. Besides, we had to adapt due to the cars parked at the curb on either side, as Mulberry as a one way street. At any rate the hockey sticks we used were made from Wooden Orange crates. What we used for skates were our roller skates. Since we had no rocks to use as a puck, we would step on a soda can and flatten it to be our puck…. Noisy as heck, but it worked just fine. We would “choose up sides” and begin. Being the only left handed I always had the advantage! So when I had the puck, I would always be on the left side of the boys who were trying to steal the puck from me, by coming around my right to try. One time a guy, can’t remember who, swung in an attempt to hit it from my right side, and me turning and laughing to look at him as he swung too high, brought his stick under my chin. At that time I had my tongue sticking out as you do sometimes while concentrating on the play. His stick came up and hit me under my chin and POW my jaw closed and bit my tongue. Next I then realized blood is splashing over my face, pain was killing me from my mouth! Stopping dead in my tracks, I felt my mouth and my tongue was sticking out. All the players nearby looked amazed! I then realized what had just happened!!! What to do? Go home? No! Luckily there was a doctors home and office directly in front of me, as he had set it up for the rich people living in the apartment buildings alongside. I rushed to his door, rang the bell and finally the doctor himself came out. This story is told in my blog, with all the details hereafter! Go to Www.whiteKnightadventures.org to read it!
When I was 18 and working nights at Phelps Dodge, a trans-Atlantic cable manufacturing company. My job was testing a 30 foot section of cable that I put 10 to 50 thousands volts of electricity through them. I was being trained to become an Electrical Engineer. One night the cable blew after only about two hour. I then became bored just sitting there (it was 1950 and no iPhones yet) and decided to walk through the deserted factory at about 9:00pm. In doing so I came across a very large window high up and decided to look out of it to see what the factory looked like at night. Seeing a platform to climb onto and look out, I did so and stepped onto a piece of cardboard laying flat on the floor to look out. As I placed my right foot onto it and raised my body onto the platform, it gave way and my leg went down into it , while my left slid along side and proceeded to stop on a sharp steel ring onto its edge, it was a 4’round air conditioning shaft being repaired! Thankfully it smashed into me along side of my tesicles but caught one and proceeded to cut it in half, but not the sack itself. What happened next was wild! My testicle sack began to fill with blood from one vein that was also cut and it didn’t stop until it was the size of a football stretching as much as possible. At the emergency ward, Two doctors after examining my condition decided after not knowing what else to do, to just let it stay as it was and sent me to the maternity ward as there they had sitz baths to relieve the pain and swelling that I was now experiencing. It lasted for over a month.
When I was 40, when my sons were 16, 15 and 2, and we were celebrating Easter at my in-laws basement, as we did at all holidays. A table was set up in a corner of the room to be able to sit everyone there. Being agile, I said that I would sit back in the corner seat. Since there was no other way to get into the seat, I had to jump over the table using one foot on the chair alongside me. With my hand on the table, I jumped and both my feet went into the place where I was going to sit. Boom, I landed on a Indian brass bell that was a sharp letter opener at its handle which proceeded to go up into my groin and stopping at the bell. Shocked by the pain, I grabbed the bell and pulled it out of my groin and as i did it I stood up pushing the table over in front of me. Blood came flushing out of me as I tried to stop it pulling off my pants. My son Trey saw what was happening helped me to our car and drove me to a local hospital, actually the same one as the one from my last accident. As my body reacted, it began to swell closing the gap and again the sack filled to the size of a football. Once settled in an emergency, I lay awake not believing that it happened again to me, when all of a sudden they rolled in another bed next mine. I looked and saw it was my son Trey who had fainted from the shock of all that happened, thinking he was loosing his father! Me, I had once again, my football between my legs!
In 2002 after I built my 40 foot RV, And I began to fly my powered parachute. Starting to learn with the man I bought it from. Being near my son Trey home, I brought it there trying to take off from there thinking there was plenty of space to take off. However, every time I tried, I had to stop because I could see I could not make it over the trees. My two sons and I agreed that a little down the road from Trey’s was a long wide field and we would try there. Going there and setting the plane up to fly, I judged the length that was available to fly, I said to the boys, I can make it!!! Starting it up I had Michael go halfway down the field and Trey a little further. I began my run down the field and as I reach Michael he yells that I should go. Go, Go and I did coming up to Trey he too followed yelling go Dad!!! That’s exactly what I did and pulled hard on the parachutes reins forcing it to pull me up, up and away. As I cleared and went over the top we all yelled, I made it. One second after I went above the top edge of the trees, one wild branch was facing me 20 feet in front of me. I hit it, but it caught my wheel and stopped me dead in my tracks. The front wheel pointed down and down I went along side that branch. As it was happening, I was remembering Jurassic Park, the movie where the car went over a wall straight down smashing into branches until it stopped. Well that actually happened to me with branches slowing me and the plane down as some branches were hitting me in the face. The plane hit the ground and being strapped in I just remained in my seat. I unsnapped my harness and stepped out as I heard screaming from both my sons as they grappled through the woods to me. Yelling Dad!!! Dad!!!, As they got to me, I raised my hand and said ”Hi boys… I’m alright”, and I was with only a few scratches on my face. As we looked up we estimated the drop to be about 75’, well just another adventure, but the plane and parachute really were destroyed as it helped to take the brunt of the fall.
As winter was turning to spring, I began to start my garden in the back yard where we were living in a cottage that I built at Claire’s daughter’s home. Looking at the same place I had made the garden years before, I noticed that the sun was no longer clearing the branches of the tree in front of the garden and I knew they had to go. I had a 18’ ladder that I had bought to build the cottage and proceeded to get it and place it under the branch. Up I went with everyone watching. I reached the top but it still wasn’t high enough unless I went up to the very top. Dangerous as I now had no place to hold onto, but me, being me, I proceeded to reach out with my 5’ extended chain saw. I began to cut to the branch but because the branch kept moving, the saw cut and jammed into the branch. I began pulling, and pulling hoping I could make the branch break. As I pulled and pulled the ladder began to sway. My last pull was too much for the ladder and it swayed, twisted and I proceeded to fall down in front of me letting go of the saw. But too late as it kept me to fall with my knees heading for the ground. Sure enough, I landed on my left knee, then flipped over hitting my face on the ground. Well, Bianco you did it again! It took over a month to be able to walk properly! However, I did get the garden finished, and I had tomatoes to kill for and I almost did.
In 2003, I had my Peterbilt motorhome and had it parked a Smiths Point on eastren long Island on fire Island. I was beginning to pull out of my spot to attach my car and then proceed to pick up Claire where she was at the Daughter home. As I was attaching the car, I had to take the bar that was being held on by a spring attached to the roof. In trying to pull the line free, the spring that was attached to the car came loose, and the hook that was at the end came loose and snapped up, winding up going into the palm of my left hand and into the meat of my palm. OOPS! Well, what to do as I began to bleed more and more. I cut the hook loose from the RV and jumped into my car and headed for Good Samaritan Catholic Hospital. My cousin Michael the Doctor worked there and I called him as I drove and told him my problem! He said come and leave your car in the emergency entrance. When I got there a bed on wheels was waiting. They put me on it and there were two surgeons awaiting. They were laughing and couldn’t believe what they saw. Michael did too and in a matter of a few minutes they got the hook out stitched up the wound. It took about two week before they were able to take out the stitches. Just another day in my exciting accident-prone life!!!
Yesterday while trying out a new slicing box that really worked well on my first try, I decided to use it to slice onions after finishing slicing cucumbers very very thin. In doing so, I tried the first onion and it came out beautiful, so I began a second and as I came to the onion getting close to the blade I used a holder to finish. Dumb me saw a very small end left and in trying to use the holder, the needles used to hold the onion kept hitting the blade, so using my thumb and index finger I held it gentle and push it through to the blade, but there was a green route that was in the middle and in trying to force it through, I sliced a piece of my thumb off. Not much but enough for all the layers of skin plus a little deeper. Big time blood, got black electrical tape and wound it tightly below the wound, the part below the knuckle. It stopped the blood, then the circulation, then the pain began. Oh oh where to go? Can’t go out with the coronavirus all over the place, but I gotta do something! I remembered an Urgent Care facility that we had gone to before this and told Claire to stay home. It wasn’t far and into it I went, they had all my info already in the computer and took me to a room that was sparkling clean. As a nurse looked at my thumb then proceeded to stop the bleeding and then applied a cloth-like material that she said would absorb the blood and turn it into a seal, and that I should wait for 24 hours, then when I was taking off the bandage that portion would have sealed the wound to stay and that was that. I went home, took off all my clothes, washed them immediately, took a shower and relaxed for the night with my thumb held high till the 24 hours were met. When the time came, off came the bandage and sure enough the bleeding stopped, but to look at the hole that was created, was unbelievable. There was only one problem now… I’m left-handed and you can do nothing without that hand using your thumb, so now my nose has to do the job in its place. Here is the picture I took.
Hey! Guess what I did it again??? Last night April 7,2020 I made a berry pie from MARIE CALENDAR and when checking to see it was done, by sticking my pointed knife in to it, licked the berry juice off the knife… great, needs to cool for an hour or so. Went into den and began watching TV, till I noticed blood was on my finger from rubbing it! Went to a mirror and saw what the knife did without me feeling it…take a look but don’t if you’re wimpy. Now because of the Coronavirus it’s impossible to just go to any medical facility. So, after many attempts, I just went to bed with a bunch of ice cubes and with my forcing my tongue to my upper palate! Woke up this morning with a 1”round scar in the middle of my mouth but seemingly better!!! Again “LEFTY”, The one and only, The White Knight, beat the odds, or did I?
“MY PASSPORT WAS STOLEN IN THAILAND”
Here is my next story “MY PASSPORT WAS STOLEN IN THAILAND”
It started when the Vietnam war was going strong and American men who left the USA to avoid the draft and wandered trying to live abroad. They claimed the war was wrong, so they just wouldn’t do there duty. However, to live abroad you needed to have a valid passport to travel, and so these same “WOL” young men, not being able to use their passport, knowing the US government would trace them and put them in prison tried to steal US passports in order to travel from place to place, or even travel back to America under a different name. A new business was started with crooked people stealing passports, and then selling them to these same young men.
This became a problem for American business travelers, because in many cases they were away from their hotel rooms just having dinner with customers, or local manufacturers. It just wasn’t smart to carry your passport with you at all times for just that reason, you were prone to being mugged, or worse. So, when I entered a country, I put my passport in a safe place in my room, and traveled with locals in each country I was in.
Thailand (SIAM) was a country with very lax laws and allowed these same young men to stay there, expecting them to spend American dollars while they remained. So, many locations in Bangkok catered to them while they had the money to do so. They couldn’t work to earn money, cause the local labor force was so cheap, they couldn’t compete.
On one trip, I brought my son Trey and he and I did my business together, and eventually travelling to a vacation city for a few days of fun. We were able to rent jet ski’s and run around with them, till I had to get back to business. Back to Bangkok to meet a manufacturer and to fly to my next country, usually Hong Kong. Some time while we did our thing, someone got into my room and stole my passport. It probably was a servant making money on the side, but no way for me to know. I complained to the manager who I knew pretty well, but he could nothing, knowing my passport was into the wind on a plane going back to America, or Canada.
So, I naturally went with Trey, who still has his passport, to the Local US consular office to tell them my problem and request a new passport. As we were entering the building we noticed a very, very large line going out into the street. Approaching the Guards at the entrance, I explained what had happened and want to enter to report my passport stolen and request a new one. They laughed as it wasn’t new to them, but they said I would have to wait on the long line. I laughed back at them and said look at my eyes and look at my son, do we look like locals. They said they couldn’t let me in and I said trey, show them your passport, which he did, and I said to trey “Am I your Father”? Naturally he laughed and said of course, we look alike, which we did. I then said This can’t be the first time you have heard of an Americans passport being stolen? With that I turned to Trey and we boldly walked into the building. he as an American and me as his father.
The problem was only just beginning, as we approached the desk, the person said I had to wait on that line. I looked at him and said listen, my passport was stolen and I need a new one, who do I speak to, or do I find a supervisor and start complaining as an American citizen who is being abused! Trey again showed his passport with his picture clearly on it, telling the man that I was his father and My passport was stolen. I was proud of the way Trey talked and finally the man sent us to another desk where we sat down told the whole story of why I was Bangkok, how we were staying at the ???? Hotel and how the manager could verify my many visits to Bangkok. I then said that I’m sure he knew of many of the same incidences happening all over the world, and could I please now get a new passport. You must remember in those days, the Internet and computers were in the future, so he said I had to fill out a long form, and I said whatever it will take, but I’m nor leaving here till I have my passport in hand. He realized I was not be played with, and knew trouble was in the wind, so He called over a Supervisor, and I met with him going through the story, but he was a man of action and knew he didn’t need bad press. Trey and I left both with passports!
Where were you when Martin Luther King was shot?
Where were you when Martin Luther King was shot ?
Me? Well on Friday, April 5th 1968, I was driving my motorcycle as I did every day through Harlem, on Lenox Ave where I had my flower warehouse on 168th St, just off of Lenox.. It was just a regular day for me to go there before I continued on down to my office on 23rd St and Fifth Ave, a building called “The Gift and Toy Building”. As you come south, down Lenox Avenue at 169th street, it begins to rise, so much so, that you can’t see over the hill, down the avenue until you actually reach the crest of the little hill, then as you do so, you can see way down to 110 St, where the unofficial boarder line exists between black Harlem and Spanish Harlem. Every day I did the same thing and carefully reached the top of the hill, because many times, heavy traffic was stopped there for one reason or another, and it’s wise to slow down as to go over it. I’ve learned over the years in driving, that you must always see one mile down the road you’re going to be safe, so I’m always very careful when I can’t see. This one particular day as I came over the crest, a large crowd of people were in the middle of the street, were they were yelling and screaming, and kicking and punching a man who was white, laying there trying to protect himself. he was a truck driver who was pulled out of his truck that was forced to stop in the middle of the street, so, I had no choice but to slam on my brakes and lay the bike down in order not to hit into the crowd, and as I slid with sparks flying, I stopped in time, just before hitting the crowd, who when hearing the loud screeching sound, turned to see what had happened, and why the screeching noise. I lay on top of the bike to prevent my being crushed under it, and naturally I was shook up trying to get up, but I was not able to as some young men grabbed me and began to hit me and punch me, just as they were doing to the guy I just saw. I didn’t know what was going on and tried to fight back but it was impossible against so many. Just then, I hear screaming for everybody to stop.. “STOP”, “STOP” That’s Mr. Bianco! They jumped in and tried to stop what was happening to me, Yelling, “That’s My Bianco”, he is our friend and he has been helping us! They were very insistent and actually were fighting off all that were around me. More joined to help out. Eventually everybody stopped and I got up and was surrounded by all the boys who worked in my warehouse. They walked with me to my bike, helped me lift it up and we all pushed it to my warehouse, each of them saying how sorry they were and did I know what happened? I said all I know is when I came over the rise, they were there yelling and screaming, and I didn’t know why, because I always came the same way. They all said, “No, not that, don’t you know what happened today?” I said no “What happened?” They all screamed at once “They killed Dr Martin Luther King” and everybody in Harlem has gone crazy beating up every white man they see, even the ones like you who help us… It’s crazy everybody has gone Crazy!!! Needless to say, I stayed away from my warehouse for many days, and told my guy in charge, to call me at least three times a day with a report on how things were going, and have all my worker stay home, but that I’ll still pay them to stay out of the riots and just keep there families safe, and that it will end as it always does. I didn’t realize just how much Dr. King was loved and honored as it didn’t end right away like I though, but continued on and on, with the bad element taking over being incited by the little sneaky Bastards, like Al Sharpton, destroying the places they needed to live and eat, and hurting those businesses that actually were there for them everyday. The police did nothing! As they stayed away from all of Harlem leaving all the good black families to suffer from all that was being destroyed, knowing it was best for them to wait till it ended and then go in and restore “Law and order”!
White Knight Adventures
Well today i caught a mouse!
Today I caught a mouse!
Today I caught a mouse! By Sal Bianco
I never thought I could feel so bad as when I saw the mouse.
It was a he, or she, who kept leaving little spots around the house.
So, today I caught a mouse, and I feel so sad that I could cry,
cause now, I have to sit and watch it die.
I’m sorry, Mister, I didn’t mean to eat your crumbs from the floor!
Today I caught a mouse, but how can I ever forget its eyes,
as it struggled and fought to run from me with it’s cries.
I thought I was clever, and set a trap that glued it to a pad,
I never thought that seeing it caught would make me so sad.
So, today I caught a mouse, and now must try it set free
from a glue so strong that it could capture even me.
I tried my best to free it’s tail, and then a leg, and paw,
but no matter what I did, it became stuck, even more.
Hey! I’m stuck.. Help me! Please!!!
Yes, today I caught a mouse, but now I’m crying like a fool.
Hey! It’s only a mouse… it’s only a mouse, so I should be cool,
so why do I feel so bad about myself, at being such a louse;
Just because I caught a mouse that was living happily in my house.
It’s not dead as yet, but soon will be,
cause no matter what, I cannot set it free.
Now all I can do is cry and cry, as I have to watch it die.
Today I killed a mouse, and I feel I too want to die,
But no, because all I can do is sigh, and sigh, then just cry.
Never again can I think of a mouse, without seeing those eyes of fear;
that I won’t stop and think, and wind up with a tear.
God! I killed a mouse, and cannot understand how people kill,
things that live, and not feel what I now feel, and always will.
What pain and heartbreak I have in me,
So God ! Help me to never again kill anything I see.
Because I watched a little mouse that only wanted food,
die because of me, so now all I can do is brood.
God help me get good feelings back, and not be so sad,
it’s only a little mouse I caught with glue on a pad.
I’m a man who has lived a long life, and think that I’m so smart,
but all I can feel now is to live with a broken heart.
What’s a little dirt and mess, against a life abound;
that could still be happy, running, round and round.
I can’t seem to stop the pain and hurt that is in my heart
So God, just show me how and make me smart
to never be so foolish again, as to hurt another living being.
The little is squealing: Help! Please help, and set me free!
Yes, even a little mouse that eats, then leaves a little peeing.
So what’s a little cleaning after all that’s said and done,
to save a life, knowing it’s living and having fun.
Leaving little messes after all, it’s only a little mouse
who has chosen to live with me, in my little house.
I want to tell the world about the mouse I caught today,
so that all can stop and think, hope and pray, for that mouse I caught today.
Never again, can I watch a thing alive, die because of me.
Never again, cause now all I’ll do is smile, then help to set it free.