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We’ve all had opportunities to reflect on how we got to where we are. In some cases, given the time and proper opportunity for contemplation, we sometimes wonder why we are where we are. I’m not a strong believer in the concepts of fate and destiny, but when I remember back to an experience I had as a youngster, my confidence in those beliefs gets a little shaky.
My father had spent much of his working life in the apparel business, mostly in sales. During his career he was associated with such companies as Arrow Shirts and Stetson Hats, working in New York City while raising a family in Long Island. One day, call it around 1965, he forgot some important documents for a business meeting and called home to my mother for some help. Surrounded by eight children, four of whom were five or younger, I was selected to take the documents into the city and deliver them to my father. That involved taking the Long Island Railroad from Hicksville to Jamaica, changing trains in Jamaica, and then traveling on to Penn Station in the city.
No big deal, people did it everyday. My challenge I was nine. You might think it strange for responsible parents to dispatch a nine-year old on such a journey, but both my parents grew up in the city and had intimate knowledge of what I was getting into. Plus, I was up for the adventure. So, with a shirt, tie, sport coat, and a makeshift briefcase, I was dropped off at the train station and jumped into the rush hour commute. I still remember the looks I got from my co-rush hour participants when I waited on the train station deck and then boarded the train. The change in Jamaica step could’ve posed some problems but, armed with explicit instructions and some cautionary advice (if you get lost or confused, go to a cop), I made the train switch and eventually made it to Penn Station. When I look back at that commute, it’s like it happened yesterday. Mostly, I remember the smiles and astonished/humorous comments:starting them young these days, give ’em hell, am I on candid camera?
Long story short, I made it to my Dad’s office in the Empire State Building, delivered the documents, and spent the day absorbing the apparel trade (mostly playing with paper clips and rubber bands much the same things I do today!).
Fate? I don’t know, but it certainly has to get you to thinking. If my Dad were with us today, I’m sure he’d say something like, sheesh, if I knew this is where you would have ended up, I would have had your brother Tommy deliver the documents! | 