Sal's Reflections

Seeing a real opening to control the debate Mike raises his voice “They came as legal immigrants who followed all the rules. They did not sneak in and soak up all the benefits. My family worked their asses off, and devoted themselves to making a better life for their children. In just two generations they changed the course of History in this country. I as a physician am a living example of what  love and devotion to country can achieve. The liberal bullshit is give away city. Carter, Clinton ,Gore and now Obama are willing to give away the store as long as they can steal some votes. Actually I will cut Clinton some slack he was only interested in getting laid. The new nut Bernie Sanders is an avowed communist and looks like the characterfrom the Muppets.. Everything will be free soon and poor bastards like you and I will have to give till it hurts. When the hell did you think that an avowed communist would run for the presidency? And then there is the Dragon Lady herself. I would rather trust the words of a serial killer than her.”

Sal waves off the barrage and volleys with.Yeah the moral hypocrites that espouse a morality that is purist in nature, but bullshit in practice. The crowd that were so outraged by Clinton were balling everything that moved .Your current presidential crowd and moral majority supporters are  filled with candidates who are married a bunch of times and have had more affairs than Clinton. They don’t believe in science, and think every woman should be pregnant and silent. What about Cruz, talk about a scary guy.a couple of weeks ago he said there is no place in America for atheists and gays. Some of the things that come out of those presidential debates sound as though they come from people who have no understanding of our heritage. Trump is my favorite though he just makes shit up “Is this what I have to look forward to everyday the parrot version of Beck ,.Limbaugh and Hannity?’

Fully engaged both Sal and Mike are standing trading barbs facts and political vies. “Not as bad as those assholes on MSNBC.  The so called Reverend Al Sharpton and Rachael Maddow defend the indefensible like the riots in Ferguson and Baltimore..They act like every cop has a hunting license to shoot innocent civilians.”

The confrontation has become more and more heated and Sal seeks to defuse the exchanges.

“Mike I think that if we continue this partisan crap we are both going to have elevated blood pressure. I seriously doubt that either one of us is going to have an aha moment and move to the other side. Obviously we both feel passionately about these political issues, and maybe we need to discuss other things. Hell I haven’t seen you in years, and I don’t want this to be a one contentious kind of relationship. We were great friends in school, when we hung around on the corner. I would rather spend time on what we have in common rather than what separates us.”

Sitting down and wiping the perspiration off his brow Mike agrees. “ I think you’re right, I am getting a little hot under the collar, and if you agree to put your New York Times under the table I will agree to be civil.”

“I’ll make you a deal, I’ll never read the New York Times in your presence if you agree never to turn on Fox news in the game room.”

“Can I read Glen Beck’s book out loud?”

“You do and I’ll have Hilary Clinton come to our speakers program:”

Somewhat shocked at Sals statement. “We have a speakers program here?”

Sal: “Yeah last year we had, Barbara Streisand,Michael Moore and Barney Frank.”

Mike makes the sign f the cross.: “Christ, shoot me now.”

Sal;” Just breaking your balls Doctor Let’s go to lunch.

Mike taps his fingers on the table.It is a nervous habit that he is not even remotely aware of “How long have you been here.” Giving a gesture feigning as though he was a prisoner in chains Sal responds. “Almost seven months, my kids thought I needed a safe environment. The precipitating event was  I was never much of a cook, but one day I forgot that I had started something on the stove. I went out shopping, stopped at Starbucks and while reading the New York Times heard one fire engine after another whiz by on eighth avenue. when I returned my Condo was on fire and there were fire trucks around the entire building.. The pot exploded and did significant damage to the kitchen. The curtains caught fire,  but fortunately most of the damage was in the kitchen and foyer. Despite this the Condo board though I was an arsonist and notified me and my children that it woud be best for all if I found a new living environment. Well, that is my saga what misdeed brought you to our hallowed haven.

I had an accident on the Palisades Parkway and it was the tipping point for my kids especially my daughter. While driving in broad daylight I went off the road and hit a

tree. on the Palisades Parkway. The damn tree had the whole world to grow in, but it had to grow right in front of my grill. Pretty much totaled the car. I made up a bullshit story about a deer running in front of me but neither the cops nor my kids bought it. The kids had been after me for a while to give up the car, and find a place that I would like and be safe. I guess the old reflexes aren’t what they used to be. I can’t see worth a shit distance wise.?” Nodding in agreement because Sal totally understood Mike’s situation. “We’re you living alone?”

Taking off his glasses there was a pause and Mike appeared to wipe a tear from his eye.“Yeah Arlene died three years ago after a long bout with cancer.”Sal recollected that Irish beauty who was not only gorgeous but also a person of exeptional  kindness and warmth “Sorry to hear that, she was the most beautiful girl in our graduating class from high school.”“She wasn’t only beautiful Sal she was a terrific person. How about you? I heard somewhere along the way that you were married…” “Yeah Helen and I were married for thirty six years. She was an emergency room physician. One night she was treating a patient and just keeled over. She had a brain aneurysm and died the next day.”Ironic no matter how many times he made that simple statement it still jarred him emotionally.

Mike could feel that like him Sal had not been able to move past his wife’s death. “You sound as lost as me.  I still find it hard to believe that she‘s gone. Every once in a while I find myself dialing my home number to talk to her, and then I realize again that she’s dead.”, “Boy I get that. I always thought that it would be me that would die first .I was twelve years older than Helen. I guess I lived with the myth that the age difference would allow me to skip the pain of her dying first.”

Starting to feel tears in his eyes Mike makes an attempt at humor to soften the feelings that the conversation has surfaced.: “My God you don’t look a day over ninety. Do you sleep in formaldehyde?” “You always were a smart ass. If I remember correctly you are six months older than me.”

The banter about age allows Mike an opportunity to get out one of his pet political peeves. “Don’t say that out loud Sal or the Obama death panels will come after me. The best way to cut the cost of health care is to start eliminating the elderly. When you sign up for Medicare they put you on the list.” Sal raises his hands toward the ceiling in a gesture of total confusion. “Oh God I’ve been cursed to spend my waning days with a right wing nut.”Mike senses the beginning of political parrying and immediately responds “Don’t tell me that you are one of those bleeding heart liberals. It’s people like you that elected this disaster. The only good thing about being a senior citizen is that I won’t be around to see the damage Obama will wreak on our future This deal with Iran is probably the biggest foreign policy give away ever.You had better get a prayer rug because he is so fucking weak that the terrorists are taking over the entire middle east.”

Sal is now filly engaged and immediately shoots back.”Well I have to tell you that after eight years of dip shit Bush, it’s refreshing to listen to a president that can complete a full sentence. If brains were dynamite Bush couldn’t blow the ass off a flea.”Leaning closer toward Sal the two are almost face to face in a confrontational posture. “At least Bush was a citizen, Obama should be recalled because he has not proven that he is a bona fide American citizen:” “I see that you have the full blown insanity. Do you really believe that bullshit?’: “If it’s bullshit why can’t we see the documentation that proves he is a citizen? The guy is suspect at every level, and I’m not even sure that he isn’t a Muslim. Hell, check out his middle name;. Hussein.”Attempting to insert humor Sal questions “Yeah my middle name is Joseph, do you think that I’m the Virgin Mary’s husband?Mike these charges are the result of a fringe group that find fault with every single thing he does.”

Fully engaged Mike starts to barrage Sal with data. “Yeah, just like your so called fringe group did with Bush.Their behavior was unpatriotic and did nothing to support our troops. Obama is dismantlingeverything that we knew and loved as kids.” ‘Like what?As if a file has been opened Mike responds with chapter and verse. “The government is going to control everything in our lives. Christ he owns the banks, the car companies, and he hasn’t done shit about the illegal immigrants. I’ll bet that he grants them all immunity. Fortunately Donald Trump has the balls to deport them. There is a great deal of righteous anger and Trump has the guts to voice what a lot of us are feeling.Not only that Obama hasn’t done a damn thing to defeat Issis.Trump won’t be a pussy like Obama”Trump? Are you shitting me the guy is a total loose cannon who has alienated every group except the pissed off white people in our age group.The latest insanity is that he has resurrected that train wreck Sarah Palin.The solution for the way to stop Trump is to give him an enema and then bury him in a shoe box This may come as a shock to you Mike but your grandparents did not come here from Iowa, they came from Ireland: “

Sal was absolutely thrilled that part of his vibrant past would be living at Fox Hill, and there is nothing more comforting than knowing that the culture you grew up in is known and loved by a buddy. “I think the last time I saw you was when you and Gerry Pier were pitching pennies on the corner.”

“There’s a name I have not heard in a century. Do you recall your comment about him in Sister Angela’s’ class?”Sal laughed and though he could vividly picture Gerry Pier in his mind there were no incidents that flowed out with the recognition of his name.:” hell I can’t remember what I had for breakfast.”Mike chuckled and began to set the scene. It was one of the hot Indian summer days, and even with those God awful  Catholic uniforms the girls wore it was obvious that Mary Ann Gallo was hugely endowed  Gerry was staring at her  breasts when he was called upon to read by Sister Angela. He had an erection, so he kept his hand on it trying to hide it. Sister Angela demanded that he take his hand out of his pocket. When he did this you said” Hey Gerry you forgot a finger. “The good sister raced down the aisle and whacked you five or six times, and demanded that you go to confession.”

Sal was doubled up with laughter, but would give no credence to the event. “I’m a good catholic boy, and I am sure you are making that up. Speaking of getting whipped by the good sister has the warden shown you all of the facilities yet?” “Do you mean the Directress Mrs.Toffler?. She has the personality of a door. Her facial expression looks like she has a migraine and bleeding hemorrhoids. Does she always seem so formal and aloof?” “Wait until you’re here a while, she will really piss you off. The woman has more fucking rules than the government. Sometimes I feel like I am in the third grade being scolded by one of the nuns. Speaking of nuns, do you remember that you asked Sister Michaela the principal of the grade school for permission to take a collection for the unknown soldiers’ mother on Mothers day?”

Incredulous that Sal remembered that he smiled and offered “Yes, I actually made one hundred and six dollars until Fr. Kelly found out about it. Not only did I have to give the money back, but had to make a public apology to all those I had fleeced. After I apologized he read the riot act to me, and said He would be watching me. He scared the hell out of me. I always thought that the discipline was only because it was expected. I think he actually got a kick out of it. Remembering that indicates that at least you still have all your marbles. Walking around this morning I had the distinct impression that a lot of people are just sitting on their asses waiting for the grim reaper. Actually I prefer those who are out of it to the breakfast crowd discussing every freaking part of their body, and what ails them. The news that I was a surgeon must have been leaked out. Tough to eat oat meal when the table conversation revolves around bowel movements and kidney stones.” Sal Nods in agreement “Yeah I know that feeling. I never thought the main topics of conversation would center on the ills of the aging process. They should change the name of this place from Fox Hill to God’s waiting room .It is  like the ground hog movie version of dying. Some people in life check the baseball scores; we check the number of those that have made it through the night.”

After breakfast Sal picked up his mail ,daily newspaper and headed for the library. Reading his New York Times he heard a voice at the doorway that had the clear distinct accent of his birthplace. He placed his paper down,turned to the sound of the voice, and with usual Jersey City sarcasm uttered;
“Oh Jesus look what the cat dragged in, Michael McNally. I hope you are only visiting because the Fox Hill Bond rating will go down
God. I haven’t seen you in over forty years.Warmly shaking the hand of his long lost friend he asked “How the hell are you?” Never one to completely abandon the smart ass response they had cultivated and perfected in their youth Michael replied: “Oh don’t tell me that they let Guineas live here. I thought this was a high class place. I may have to request my deposit back. Obviously if they checked references you would never be allowed to live here. “

Making a left turn off the main road the large sculptured gate at the entrance of Fox Hill appeared and winding down the road to the main entrance John heard Salvatore’s sigh as he closed his eyes.

Parking in front of the entrance John went to the trunk to remove the two suitcases, and gently placed them on the curb.” Dad wait here, I’m going to park the car and then we can walk in together” .Sal opened the car door gingerly, stepped outside and glanced at the lovely manicured grounds and thought to himself well” I guess this Is better than prison. “He mused to himself somehow I thought I would escape this chapter. I never thought I would go from a vibrant life with a loving wife to a number in a sanctuary merely marking time.”.” John. picked up the suitcases, and they entered the front door of Fox Hill.

Immediately entering the vestibule they were met by the Mrs. Blanche Boyer.” Well good morning I gather this is Doctor Salvatore LA Greca. Welcome Dr., and I presume that you are his son John Well please follow me to my office, and we can chat about some of the benefits of living at Fox Hill.” Sal turned to John and said “you don’t have to stay John ,I know you have things to do. Please say hello to Amy and Erika.”” Okay dad if you need anything at all just let me know because I am not that far away. I know this weekend both Amy and Erika would love to come here, and maybe we could go out to lunch.”The two men embraced, John turned and walked to the door, and again Sal felt that he was all by himself.

“Well let’s start with the preliminary question of name. What would you like me to call you, doctor, Salvatore ,Sal the what is your preference?” Sal thought this jazz is so annoying. What do I care what she calls me? His initial impression of Mrs. Boyer was that she was a cross-section between nurse Ratchet from” One flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest “and Mary Poppins.She was apparently trying to be bouncy and happy in making this like he somehow just won the Nobel Prize.” Seeing that you have no preference I will refer to you as Salvatore.” Opening a file drawer she handed Sal a thick packet of materials. “This is a packet of information regarding most of the things that you will need to know about living at Fox Hill. As you well know we refer to ourselves as the place where there is more than ample opportunity for you to maintain your normal lifestyle. We request that some of your furniture and artwork or whatever is most appropriate be placed in your individual condos so that you will feel more comfortable “

Sal was barely paying attention, and was wishing that this part of the process would end so he could go to his room and just lie down, and try to absorb what was happening to him He said” fine I will read this later when I get to my room “ Mrs Boyer seemed annoyed at his lack of interest, and offered a quick tour of the facility. “It might be beneficial for me just to give you a quick tour of the facility, and show you some of the amenities that we hope that you will be able to utilize in your stay here. “That last offer of a tour was the last thing Sal wished to experience.. After handing him his packet of information Mrs. Boyer opened the door and said” let’s start by walking down the corridor to the music room; opening the door she said here you will find all sorts of the CDs ,and by the way we have a piano, and fortunately ,three of the persons that live here are accomplished pianists ,and more than occasionally we have sing-alongs Sal thought to himself “God shoot me now; he envisioned being stuck on karaoke night singing show tunes with a bunch of strangers..
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Leaving the music room they walked down the hallway to the arts and crafts room. Mrs. Boyer cheerfully chirped” we have all sorts of opportunities for people to use their skills and talents .Sal glanced at the four “souls wrapped up in making Christmas ornaments or stringing beads together ,and thought the day I wind up in this damn room will be the day the world ends.” For the next 20 min. Mrs Boyer guided Sal through the corridors, and explained a great deal of information. He thought to himself ‘”.If this tour continues for much longer l might up go up on the roof and end it all.. Finally the tour ended and he was shown to his room .Closing the door he lay on the bed, and thought to himself” I haven’t been this anxious since that first day at Darlington seminary”,

John an NBC sports broadcaster had just returned from doing interviews before the All-Star basketball game which was to be held in New York. Living in New Jersey now he was regularly able to stop in New York to see his father. He noticed at Thanksgiving that there were some physical changes occurring in his dad, and he worried that since his mother’s death the changes were becoming more and more significant.  it was difficult for John, as with all children, to  watch their parents age because his father had always been such a vibrant dynamic force in his life. As recent as two days ago he had discussed the situation with his sister, but had no immediate thoughts that the hard-boiled egg incident was not some isolated event. After significant conversation with his sister they decided that it was appropriate and timely for them to spent some time with their father and try to convince him that it was time to move toward a more appropriate setting.

Salvatore was aware that the hard-boiled egg incident was merely the tip of the iceberg. Everyone his age experiences senior moments, but it appears that lately they were more frequent ,and at times somewhat confusing. Life had not been the same since Helen died, and he placed a lot of his difficulties onto the grief process. There was absolutely no way under any set of circumstances that his life had not been dramatically changed because of her death. It was not only the fact that she died ,but it was the circumstances; it was so immediate so impactful. He kissed her breakfast and said he would meet her that evening for dinner. That afternoon he received a phone call from the CEO of the hospital. His immediate reaction was I’m sorry Helen is not home.There was a long pause before the CEO conveyed the absolute devastating message that Helen had an aneurysm in the ER and collapsed and by the time they reached her it was too late ,she was dead. Those words keep going over and over  in his mind as if there was a hydraulic drill piercing his brain.” Helen is dead ,Helen is dead “,There was no way he could immediately understand that because that morning she was vibrant ,alive and now this phone call was telling him that she was gone. He thought maybe this is a dream, and when I wake up Helen is fine  ,and soon she will be home and we  will go out to dinner; but all of this was in vain. The reality was he was alone, and there was no substitute that could fill the wondrous experience and love that he had shared for over 40 years with marvelous woman.

There was a knock at the door, slowly Sal closed the suitcase and walked down the corridor and turned the doorknob.. His son John was sheepishly standing there .”HI Dad ” John said as  he embraced and kissed him in the usual fashion that had been their custom for years. Salvatore squeezed him harder than usual, and felt the glimmer of a tear in his eye.” I guess it’s that time when I have to say goodbye to this place that I have lived with your mother for over 20 years.” John shrugged and said” I know it must be tough dad but I think that the place you’re going is really quite terrific. I remember Mom at one point in time saying that in the future she thought Fox Hill might be an appropriate place for both of you to spend your golden years.”” Golden years”?John you can do better than that.. What the hell is so golden about the fact that I’m leaving a place I most love, where  I spent years  with your mother to go to some old-age farm where my primary responsibility will be to wait for the Grim Reaper?.” Those words struck John like a sledgehammer, and he was somewhat lost for a reply.What could he say? What would make a difference at this moment ? He thought perhaps he  just should keep silent . He picked up two of the suitcases and said” the moving van will be here tomorrow to take the furniture and art work that will go to Fox Hill. The rest will be kept at my home. and you can decide later what pieces should be brought to Fox Hill. Risa will be here to make sure it all goes well.”

Closing the door Salvatore turned the key and started toward the elevator, but wistfully turned once more to gaze at the home he was leaving forever.

The ride to Fox Hill was only about 20 minutes but. the traffic was extremely heavy between 7:30 and 9 in the morning.. The conversation between John and Sal seemed stifled and almost unnatural. They always had a very warm loving an open relationship between them , but John sensed his father’s pain and anxiety. This was another verification of his mother’s death, and one by one his father was being stripped of all that was known and natural .The twisted look on his father’s face mirrored the anguish of his soul

The trees were starting to change on both sides of the Parkway and the colors of green, orange and red were absolutely beautiful, but they paid scant attention to the vista. The beauty of the New York landscape went completely unnoticed..  The constant bumper to bumper traffic finally opened up  and John exited the Parkway.l..He knew that the tension would become more pronounced  because they were about six or 7 min. away from the entrance to Fox Hill. Salvatore  remained silent apparently reluctantly resigned to the fact that he was leaving his normal environment. Memory is a wonderful thing that one draws on at a time like this, For John the key  memories of his father were that he was always vibrant, alive, funny and in many respects the  life of the party. A friend of his once commented that “your mother is the heart of the party while your father is the one that makes the house filled with laughter. That summation was so real for John remembering their home was always filled with chatter laughter .He believed that no matter what would be confronted in life there was always a way to handle any major challenge. All that seemed so distant and remote, and he wished he could turn back the clock but now he felt somewhat chagrined that he was consigning his father to a place where  his father did not want to go. Both he and Risa offered to have him move in with them, but he out of hand dismissed the offers, He appreciated their generosity offer but said that there would be no way that he would like to inflict that kind of responsibility on them at this stage of the game.

Every writer has a process that works ,and in my case I normally write out of sequence. By that I mean that whatever is roaming around in my head is the priority, and then later I place the work in a sequence. Currently I am working on a novel about lifelong friendship. There are two main characters ,both in their late 70’s, and both are widowers. They have not seen each other in almost fifty years but once were the best of friends in Jersey City. One character is a very progressive person on the political and social issues, and the other is very conservative. They meet again in Fox Hill an assisted living residence outside New York City.I have written the first characters part. It is rough at this stage, but can be shaped. I have  also written the Fox Hill part, but have only begun the second characters part.

“If it wasn’t for those damned hard boiled eggs I wouldn’t be in this predicament “

Sal LaGreca was .packing two suitcases as he prepared to leave for Fox Hill the assisted living place that had been selected by his children. In the last two months he had completely forgotten that he had put hard boiled eggs on the stove. The first two incidents were minor, but the last one was more than significant, having placed the eggs on the stone he completely forgot about them and went out to get a newspaper,Sitting blissfully in Starbucks he heard the sirens but thought little about them. By the time he returned  home the pot had exploded ,and sparks caused the curtains to burn and most of his condo  was engulfed in flames. This was the last straw for the condo board who though they loved Sal as a person could no longer tolerate the danger that his behavior presented to the rest of the residents. The president of the condo board had notified Sal’s son John that it was time for an intervention.

Momentarily placing the suitcases near the door he opened up the desk in the hallway and started to remove the contents. In the top drawer was a box containing many cards that had been sent by him and the children through the years to his wife. He had been spared going through Helen’s clothing because his daughter had volunteered to take on the task, but touching mementoes that she treasured caused a pain that seemed to elevate his grief. One particular graying item in the box caught his eye, and he took it out and momentarily smiled. It was a menu from The Greek Taverna ;the restaurant where they had experienced their first date. On the back in her inimitable hand writing were the words.”The night I fell in love.”

He could still see her standing in the hall way of the apartment on Arguello Street. It was one that was shared by her and two nurses.. Sal was visiting one of the nurses when he first met Helen ,and was immediately struck by her beauty and charm. Her smile was captivating, and she was one of those rare persons that actually cared about you ,and what you had to say.She was in the last year of her residency at USF, and little did he know that his life after meeting her would never be the same

At first glance it appeared they had nothing in common. She was from some Podunk town in upstate New York, and he had lived his life mostly in the Ney York City vicinity. She was attired beautifully with design and fashion at the forefront. He on the other hand smiled at the thought of how he was dressed at their first meeting. He had bell bottomed purple pants that if caught by a stiff wind would carry him out to sea, His leather belt was so wide it could have held up the Brooklyn Bridge. The psychedelic shirt was only outdone by his platform shoes. She was coiffed perfectly with not a hair out of place while he had a red beard and hair to the middle of his back. There was no way that these two would wind up together, but they did. She was the love of his life, and he could not fathom going on without her.They had been more than husband and wife, and shared so many happy and yes even silly moments together. He was no stranger to death, but had lived with the illusion that he would go first, and be spared the intense grief that accompanies the sudden death of a loved one. At  this point in his life he had attended more funerals than most, but not in his wildest fears did he imagine that overnight she would be gone.

She was physically absent ,and yet ever present and the wound opened each day with a fleeting memory, a place ,song ,or the sight of  someone they both knew. He maintained her voice on the phone ,and frequently called her number.

Accepting the challenge to take a position as a professor in the school of education at the University of Massachusetts was a wonderful opportunity that rarely comes along in one’s lifetime. Maddie Bragar a PhD in special education from the Syracuse University and Sal had the marvelous task of assembling a team that would approach the issues concerning those with handicapping conditions and secondary schools. The program was to be centered on a one year Master’s program for high school principals and superintendents in order for them to understand what the issues were regarding students who had previously been labeled as slow, retarded, handicapped, and a host of other limitations which were imposed by the system.

It was important for Sal and Maddy that their staff represent not just part of society but reflect,genuine diversity.In the final analysis the staff which was broken into two sections to cover the entire state of Massachusetts, reflected gender, race, ethnicity, sexual preference and handicapping conditions. The other key ingredient was that each member of the staff had a passion regarding the individual growth and development of all children at the secondary level.

Strategically it was important whenever you are involved in the change process not to behave as if you have all the answers, and equally important is the fact that you are not selling something You are trying to enroll people in a process which benefits all of those involved. It was critical for their team to understand what the issues were from the perspective of the secondary school principals and superintendents ,and to resist the temptation to label them as resistant to change. If the team members could truly understand what the limitations were from their perspective Sal and Maddy felt that the task then would be made easier when they introduced the issues concerning the students who were being largely ignored in the schools. The key issues that were raised from the principals and superintendents were also reflected in the attitudes of many of their teachers. They resented the fact that without any significant reasonable resources they were being asked to create individual educational plans for children that had been left behind by the system.

Chapter 766 was the forerunner of the national Vocational Rehab law and was grossly underfunded. As in many cases laws are promulgated without funding, and this was very true of chapter 766. Maddy and Sal learned from the superintendents and principals that their schools were woefully unprepared for the integration of students who had handicapping conditions. A perfect example of this was that their schools were not physically capable of handling anyone in a wheelchair. Very few of the schools had ramps, elevators were almost nonexistent, and it would have been almost literally impossible for a child to negotiate the system without assistance. To convey how difficult this was for children the program put the participants through a series of exercises which they hoped would enable them to understand what it was like to be a student in the schools who had been labeled as handicapped
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They were put in wheelchairs and asked to access their way around the building. They were given tests in foreign languages, and were also exposed to speakers from the community who had experienced in their own personal lives the difficulties of having a handicapping condition and being a student at the secondary level. This process did not always go smoothly, and there were at times vigorous exchanges between the candidates and the people that were brought in to speak with them .However, it was obvious as time went on that there was a growing understanding, not so much that they were villains, but that the system had failed these children ,and that it was the responsibility of all of us to become advocates for those who enter the school regardless of what the conditions were regarding their handicapping situation.

One of the most challenging parts of the educational process for the team were the workshops for teachers. Initially Maddie and Sal would run into a group of angry teachers who felt that we were being treated as villains. They often felt that the government was forcing them to employ practices which would create havoc in their own lives, and were truly not beneficial for any of the students. They thought that the integration of children would water down the educational process for their” normal students” and so we initially were met with a barrage of statements regarding what an absolute abysmal failure this program was going to be. Maddie and Sal learned not to be defensive about these initial barrages, and when r they truly listened they found almost without exception at the end of the day they had made significant process in not only understanding their issues ,but in conveying to them what some of the issues were on the other side of the fence. They also informed them that their role was not to evaluate their performances as teachers but to to provide necessary assistance which would not only benefit the child with handicapping conditions but also teachers. The team made an assumption that if they showed respect for their role as teachers they would be receptive to the process.,It would be a lot more beneficial than coming in as some evaluating process out of the blue which determined that they had failed

Sal loved watching all of the experiences of childhood through his children’s eyes. There is an enormous sense of awe and magic as they see the world through the prism of their innocence. It is more than refreshing for him to come home at night and have them regale he and Helen with their views and questions. They so trust the wonder of nature, and find charm and beauty in the simplest experiences.

John is the more physically active of Sal’s children, and his brother once referred to him as Felix Ungar from the play the “Odd Couple.”He is in constant motion, and thoroughly enjoys being a partner with his father in the attempts to plant and maintain their large garden,.It is a long way from the cobblestone streets of Jersey City to the rural setting of Florence, Massachusetts and Sal actually enjoys the work.One day it was time to fertilize the plants, and John ever Sal’s shadow in the garden had a quizzical look on his face while his father was doling out the fertilizer. Sal knelt down and asked “John is there something you want to ask me.”He furrowed his eyebrows and said”What are you putting on the plants?” He was not old enough to understand the word fertilizer, so Sal chose to explain it in terms he was sure he would understand. Sal said”John I am putting poo poo on the plants so that they will grow”. He smiled and his response made such sense and warmed Sal’s heart. “ So if I take a lot of poo poos I will grow.” So wonderful and literal, Sal let his understanding stay where it was.