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The bench dancer
Letter to all those who want good for our country
S ono now gone many years but is still perfectly polished in me the memory of Campodipietra the bench.
I'm talking about the bench dancer who followed the phases of the day chasing, Via Montini, shade cooler. It was built with four axles in good to cross the sun and the rain had over the years, but was intended permanently marked with love. Offered hospitality to anyone who had desire and time to chat. It was the living room road that gave friendship and warmth by ping-pong between the area next to the gas station and the sidewalks across the street.
every day, especially during the warm season, the bench was a must to listen to the latest news from the world and their reviews. Beware though, that living room had its own rules that were not written but were certainly known and clear to all: the seat, first of all, was reserved for those who collected bystanders want to consider culturally recognized that age. They were allowed to speak only a few senators Campodipietra life others could only listen and nod with absolutely the merits. For those who have read or seen the movies "The Naples of Bellavista" I can not imagine a better context. Sometimes living in the conversation that lasted hours, making proselytes among the passers-by, if anything taken from the heat of discourse, they forgot the commission to accomplish, just to hear the end of the diatribe of the day and rather enjoy the opportunity to side with favorite faction.
was a must engage in discourse, especially focused on political issues, the unforgettable Carlozzo Pasquale, the tuba player. They did it on purpose I am sure: they knew perfectly well that he would take all too easy, to forget that unfortunate customer who waited in vain, at least for that day. All Philip was silent if talking to your doctor Carlone, who returns every summer Campodipietra from Bari, punctual as the feast of St. Michael or his brother Alfred, a professor of chemistry in high school Campobasso, Matthew, mushrooms and Angelo suffered third of that earned Carlone acclaim for his remarkable ability: there was nothing I did not know there was never fix a problem without a solution quickly and often brilliant. Not by chance, their father and grandfather, Mary Nicola Carlone, Marconi was called. Often made a bet on the bench Nicola Spina, extending close to the point of observation. For me, he has always been and always will be the "gentle giant" with her deep blue eyes. Other Summer was a frequent visitor Liborio, who was returning on time every year, not to mention Angela Cardillo first hunter like other then daily visitor to the shores of Lake Occhito looking for carp and chub in all weather conditions. Only one day, I remember, I caught him in a lie or so I thought before finding the house full time fishing. I was immediately rebuked because Grandpa Angelo immediately replied with authoritative voice today is in honor of Saint Michael and Saint abstinence do!
So every day, while Francesco fear him, the owner and operator of the gas pump, with an ear attentive to that river of words will continue to supply super or normal vehicles. Francisc represented in itself an icon of that Campodipietra: the memory of his voice booming, that perennial tan chocolate brown highlighted with pride from the tank of raw wool, but above all his kindness and gentleness, then gently bring me back to a unique different country to a country that certainly is no more! How can you forget the time when the heat wave came from Campobasso to the tanker refueling and cargo should be checked: Francisc he was no longer anagrafe boy but with the spirit of twenty years, rising first on the 'articulated and between pipes and unions, be careful that everything proceeded for the best. What about the bus Fiat gray where fear of that, park in the shade before the house, he preferred to spend the hottest hours of summer afternoons, disturbed only from barking shrill Tito of the exposure, color mestizo tobacco from all but small pepper, perhaps to give himself a important tone, often used to walking with three legs. A bad day that unmistakable voice, that dog and that bus disappeared from the scene, leaving a gap that is still unassailable. Time passes and things change a lot and then hopelessly as it should be eventually give way to that new advances. A bench that does not sit any more, maybe there is more like many of those housed, fortunately not all! The remaining friends, for years have moved to more comfortable on a bench that does not need to chase the shadow, it was still under the canopy of centuries-old Holm via Fontana. The rules are the same and even talk. The young but no longer stop to listen, in a hurry, no time to hear the speeches that are often interrupted because the memory stutters now.
those friends of the bench that my wife liked to call "celestial court" no longer review, but believe that they care? Are and will be ready to respond fiercely to any question, as always, maybe less polished but with more momentum and availability, they are the custodians of wisdom, of our history of our traditions.
Please: do not let her empty the bench!
Marco Carlone
The bench ilex
