Good News on the Doorstep

FOR ESSEX COUNTY, NEWARK, NEW JERSEY READERS ONLY!

Belleville (NJ) High School classmate Gloria Chimento Ropero found this very special reverie by Harry T. Roman. Thanks to Goria and Harry!

Gloria Chimento Ropero

‎"A WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE" BY: HARRY T. ROMAN
Every night on the way home from work in downtown Newark, I drive though Branch Brook Park. Sure, it's out of the way, but it's my private way of relieving the day's tension and remembering where I came from. I pass St. Lucy's and enter this green oasis I still call home by Sacred Heart Basilica, not far from where my grandfather settled in 1906 when he arrived penniless in this industrial boomtown, from Manocalzati (Avellino), Italy.

Driving past Barringer High I recount my "Big Blue" glory days, while mentally envisioning a montage of youthful faces of friends, now probably scattered across the United States, and most likely feeling the same aches and pains of middle age that I do. I think fondly of those teachers who influenced my life and to this day have my respect and gratitude. There are several still alive I communicate with. I think also of gentle and caring Uncle Tony, a janitor at Barringer and my own personal guardian angel, making sure I steered clear of lurking dangers. Graduation night is yet aromatic in my memory..... the humidity, the perfume, and mother's tears mixing with youthful anticipation and false bravado-insulating the scared, uncertain young man beneath.

Past the ice skating rink and over the lake bridge, my evening odyssey continues. Memories of pink cherry blossom springs and boat rides across the lake are brought rushing into the present as the clattering City Subway makes it way along the edge of the park, carrying its cargo to Park Avenue, Bloomfield Avenue and Silver Lake-all station stops for my many aunts, and uncles, and cousins who lived along this immigrant migration path out of the old first ward. How I loved to drive my '57 Chevy along this route, windows open, fragrant air swirling in my face, oldies on the radio, and my girlfriend sitting close and warm. A boy and his car-American steel-rusty now...... both of us.

On to the bandstand and memories of mom telling me of the fun she had here. A little before my time, but probably pre-war swing and big band-the real McCoy, with a younger lake imagined to be shimmering in the setting sun. Perhaps a piece of small town America captured in a town bent on stretching its girth.

The road loops now under the Park Avenue bridge and the remembered smell of the Hooten's Chocolate factory greets me as I emerge, complete with the happy laughter of small talk and friends who accompanied me on so many walks home after school. Uncle Sal worked at Hootens, always bringing mom big slabs of chocolate for the holidays-chocolate that made its ways into cakes, desserts, and into our mouths when no one was looking.

Along the ride to Bloomfield Avenue, I gaze at the ball fields, reliving carefree summer vacations. Leaving the house at 8:00 with a packed lunch, baseball, bat, and glove and a 4:30 date with supper the only constraint on my life. Several times I was sure I saw the mystical white lady of the park and her three old dogs walking by the lake. Others were eager to corroborate the sighting. After dinner, back to the ball fields, and later watching the bocce games by the clubhouse, learning how to say a few choice words in the old tongue.

Next stop along memory lane, Bloomfield Avenue……my original home for 30 years. Ting-a-Ling's, lemon ice, hot dogs, pizza, sub sandwiches....the staples of life. This is where our high school group rendezvoused in the morning for the long walk across the ball fields to school; talking about girls, talking about homework...mostly just talking….. sometimes singing a little four part harmony-at least we certainly thought we were singing. Waking sleepy pigeons to a morning's first flight, we would dodge their floating feathers shaken loose, watching our shoes grow moist in the early morning autumn dew. Retracing this route home from early dismissal one late fall afternoon with tears in our eyes, we were numb from learning about the President's assassination.

The park seems different after you pass through the echoes under the Bloomfield Avenue bridge. It narrows down and becomes thinner. Old circular Clark Pond is gone now, filled in years ago, but the other big lake evokes many more memories.... this time of a youthful father. Playing in the many small sections of open grass, chasing flying toys he would launch for me to enjoy, and then just walking along the edge of the lake, he and I would laugh and throw stones into the water. I still find this stone throwing ritual irresistible when I am near a body of water. Here in this part of the park, sometimes amidst the memory of freshly cut grass, I can almost see Dad waving as I pass, asking me if I want to stop for a lemon ice. I'd give everything I own to be able to do that again.

Along the winding path to Heller Parkway, the memories grow a bit hazy….. my old bachelor apartment on Elwood Avenue, some scattered remembrances of ball games and quiet autumn walks. As I emerge from the park and head up to Silver Lake, I feel the day ebb, the evening call, and my memories are carefully re-wrapped for another day.

BAD NEWS ON THE DOORSTEP, THE SCREENPLAY

As many of you know, the screenplay for Joe Cervasio's first novel, Bad News on the Doorstep, has been under construction for several years now. With partner, writer/producer Ralph Greco, Jr., final edits are now being done as readers on both coasts register in with their reactions. Ten objective participants, including one actor, one writer, and several protential producer attachments are now engaged in this preliminary reading stage.

"Bad News on the Doorstep," the Screenplay by Joseph Rocco Cervasio and Ralph Greco, Jr., copyright, 2010 by Joseph Rocco Cervasio and Ralph Greco, Jr., is a more realistic look at the true story that inspired the novel. While it is based fully on the fictionalized memoir, Bad News on the Doorstep, copyright, 2004 by Joseph Rocco Cervasio, fans of the novel will discover behind the scenes events not revealed in the original book. And according to early reviews by the screenplay readers, you will enjoy the screenplay/visual project, even more.

Stay tuned, or call Mr. Cervasio or Mr. Greco with questions and/or interest in the project.

DIVERSIFIED GLOBAL STRATEGIES, LLC.

Baseball Digest Article for Red Sox Fans

Go to http://www.baseballdigest.com/2011/07/01/catching-up-with-tina-cervasio/

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