SCENES FROM AN ITALIAN RESTAURANT

Bronx, New York, Saturday morning...getting out of bed, showering, brushing my teeth, jumping into my blue jeans and my Polo shirt, sneakers...kissing mom goodbye "the Mets are playing today mom" "I know, they will win!"... running downstairs, picking up my car keys...into my red Ford Escort GT. Out to Leland Avenue in the Bronx... right on Gleason, right on Thieriot, right on Westchester Avenue, waving my friends goodbye, yes, they were going to Circle Pizza to hang out, right on White Plains Road for a mile then onto the Bruckner Expressway heading to Whitestone Bridge...oh what a pain in the ass waiting on line to pay the $1.00 toll, finally speeding on the bridge, goodbye Shea Stadium and my beloved and Amazin' Mets, bearing into the Van Wyck Expressway heading to JFK...oh there is the Belt Parkway heading to Verrazano, great, now on the Belt, a few miles, goodbye Queens, hello Brooklyn...need to get off at 86th Street...I'm there, goodbye guys at Vito's Pizza, we'll see you later...oh here is 18th Avenue...now left on 70th Street and left on 17th Avenue and left on 71st Street...half a block on the left side... "Hey Rocky!! How are you?"..."Hey José, what'us up?"...big kiss for Rocco Leone who was sitting by the front porch "Hey José, the Mets are no good!" "Oh Rocky, give them time"...open the door.."Hi José! Vinny's upstairs getting ready" "Vicky love you!" "How's your mom?" "Mom is feeling a little better, thanks!" "And your sisters and brother?" "Good, my brother is in Okinawa with the Marines and my sisters are working even today" big hug and kiss for Vicky Leone. "Hey José! You're early" "Vin, early for lunch, late for breakfast, right Vic?" Vinny kisses his mom, out the door, kiss for Rocky "Rocky, don't lose faith, the Mets will do it"..Rocky sticks his tongue out and gives the Mets the thumbs down...getting into the car...drive a few blocks, 13th avenue to Il Forno Pizzeria "what are you guys having?" "José will have two squares and Coke and I will have two round ones and a Diet Coke" says Vinny as we head to our usual table and greet our friends...great indelible scenes at our Italian Restaurant.
Oh Rocky, I miss you so much; oh mom, I miss you so much...I promise that if the Mets win the Pennant or the World Series again I will make a trip to visit both of you in Brooklyn and Paramus, NJ to put Mets pennants on your graves....Billy Joel, thanks for the songs, thank you for putting the New York spirit in our hearts and souls...