The boss could mean a couple of different things inside the mob. It might be in reference to the top boss of a Family, often known as 'Capo della Capo' (Boss of Bosses) or it could be used when referring to the Captain of a Crew.
One thing about some old Wiseguys from New York City, back in the day, was their sense of generosity when the mood struck them. Like the time I was in a sit-down meeting at an Italian restaurant in Astoria with a few buddies and the Boss.
The night I'm talking about, was with a Captain at the time...Tony S. or (Tony 'the nose') You never called him 'Tony the Nose' to his face, or in his presence out of respect after he became a Boss. That's the way it was for any crew member who moved up in rank, regardless what you might truly feel about them, otherwise, you might get a slap to the back of the head.
Almost everyone had a nickname or a.k.a. of sorts among "Gumbas" (Slang for buddy or friend) It's true what you might remember from the movie Goodfellas with Joe Pesci, De Niro and Ray Liota. As a matter of fact...that movie was a pretty accurate portrayal of life on the streets during the period.
A lot of the filming was done by Martin Scorsese in my old neighborhood of Astoria, Queens N.Y. for Goodfellas and the restaurant I was having a sit-down, was used in that movie for some scenes. (Years later)
Many movies about the mob were partly filmed in Astoria N.Y. including scenes from the popular HBO Series The Sopranos. Even Bronx Tale which was supposed to be about the Bronx, was filmed mostly in Astoria, Queens...
They hired a lot of local people as Extras for those movies as well. I had a lot of friends who played bit parts in those movies. Don't look for 'me' though...I bowed out from the offer.
Hell...If I couldn't have a major role in the friggin things, for big money like what De Niro got paid...SCREW EM I ain't no local Yokel giving out my services for peanuts :>) If I want peanuts, I'll go to a 'Ballgame' at 'Shea' or 'Yankee' Stadium.
Anyway...
Why was I at a sit-down with a Crew that I was not a member of? Well, it was just one of those things that happened from time to time when you're a "friend" who is known to be able to keep their mouth shut.
Besides, a lot of 'sit-downs' weren't always about very serious issues and in those cases it was a mix of fun, along with light business discussions.
If you ever found yourself at their Club or in some other joint hanging out and something serious came up in conversation that wasn't your business...you would simply be politely asked "Do me a favor, and step outside for a few minutes."
Yeah, Wiseguys weren't always crude and nasty when it came to certain manners, considerations and actions...even the most sick psychopaths could appear like gentlemen sometimes. Especially when it came down to following unwritten rules and of course, if the Boss is around.
There were a lot of unwritten rules in the Mob. As a matter of fact, there were no written rules that I ever saw. No little signs posted on the wall which read 'Quiet Please' like at a school Library, or 'No Smoking', 'No Running', 'No Bicycles in the Park'...NO THIS...NO THAT...NOANYTHING.
Mobsters are kind of fortunate. They don't believe in following most rules...kind of like Politicians, Cops and Banksters...but, they expect YOU to follow THEIR rules; especially the ones THEY set.
Oh the joys of living in the honest, Democratic, sharing and caring environment of the United States, where if you're a decent human being, following rules you'll never have a care in the world.
Me? I used to be much more of a rule follower than I am these days. Part of the wisdom that comes from age I guess...?
As young people, we often find ourselves in a quest to discover who we are, where we fit in, what we should or shouldn't do...the search can last for many years. Some of us, go to our graves without any satisfactory answers; maybe no answers at all.
It's a sad thing in a way. I once heard somebody refer to a graveyard as "a place where broken dreams and broken hearts are buried"... I think it's largely true.
That's why I decided not to kick the bucket till I've had all my dreams come true and my broken heart mended...or else...till all those things just stop bothering me anymore.
Yeah...that's a pretty good way of looking at it, I guess...if you don't give a shit about anything anymore, you can die with a smile on your face. Maybe that's the secret?
What a way to go to sleep and "wake up from the dream of life" like it's been said within Buddhist teachings; with a smile on your face...???
I don't know...but, what I do know is that I've suddenly rambled away from talking about Tony 'the nose' and listening to the Boss.
Man...I'm so undisciplined in my old age; lacking focus too...
Guess I'll have to leave you guys hanging a bit longer before I finish this piece, because now I have to go and shake that melancholy feeling from my bones, having stumbled into pensive, philosophical territory...
Don't fret my friends...I'll be back to finish this piece soon.
Till then, stay happy or else get that way...
Ciao
To be continued
Written by @AngryMan on Steemit.com January 20, 2020
Images: Courtesy of Pixabay.com