While I operate the floating book shop, people often ask for street directions, sometimes in Russian, at which I am clueless, despite 24 years in Sheepshead Bay. Yesterday a woman approached and asked: “Hablas Espanol?” It’s been about 40 years since the last course I took in my college minor, and now five years since I’ve worked on the trading floor, where I would break chops or have mine broken by co-workers in Spanish. Given that lack of practice, I tense whenever a Hispanic addresses me in his/her native tongue. “Poquito,” I warned the woman, my thumb and index finger barely apart ala Robert DeNiro in Goodfellas. She drew an imaginary figure on her hand that I was unable to decipher and said: “I griega,” and I immediately realized she was looking for Avenue Y. I pointed to a red light in the distance and said: “La luz roja.” She thanked me and went on her way. I chuckled, delighted. There have been times when my mind has gone into total lockdown trying to conjure the right word, others when I would confuse Spanish and Italian, which I have become equally inept at speaking or understanding. “Use it or lose it” applies especially in language. Even my English vocabulary has been slipping. Lately I’ve come across several words whose meaning I’ve forgotten, the latest “cynosure,” in this case anything that guides or directs, like the North Star. This recalls that old slogan from a public service ad: “A mind is a terrible thing to waste.” I suppose it would help if I chose more challenging reading matter. I’ve gotten lazy in intellectual curiosity.
I visited my buddy Bags at about noon, and our old friend Impy stopped by. It's hard to believe, but it's been 25 years since his family moved to Staten Island. He earned his nickname as a mischievous child and young adult, wreaking havoc on the block and neighborhood. He gave us an eyewitness account of the storm damage on Staten Island. Fortunately, his home and cars were spared. One of his businesses involves ice cream. The lot where he parks his trucks was hit by looters who siphoned gasoline from all the vehicles. He's been spending the days since Sandy dispensing coffee and soup to first responders and people in need from a truck, without compensation, although organizations have been donating supplies to him. I'm proud of him.
Not much action at the floating book shop this afternoon. My thanks to the two women who made purchases.
Visit Vic's sites:
Vic's Third Novel (Print or Kindle): http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3
Vic's Website: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/
Vic's Short Story Collection (Print or Kindle): http://www.tiny.cc/Oycgb
Vic's 2nd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/6b86st6
Vic's 1st Novel: http://tiny.cc/94t5h
Vic's Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3
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