You sound like you know your way around NYC, the Tri-state area, and how things work.
Please allow me to tell a couple of stories, but I just want to say beforehand to anyone listening that I don't admire thugs, murderers, drug deals, or criminals.
When I was a college student at Syracuse, a bunch of us attended the wedding of a friend in North Jersey. The reception was at a very, very nice place.
During the reception, a friend told us that members of the Gambino family were at the wedding. I didn't know much, other than I had heard of that crime family on the news. Well, we were young, stupid, loud, and drunk. My roommate put bread in cheeks and started to do a Don Corleone impression, and we all clapped and joined in.
A man, with a very thick mustache, came over with a big smile on his face. He put his large hands on our shoulders, and asked us if we were having a good time. When we told him we did, he said, "Dat's good, because....I want you. To Shut. Youse f_cking mouths."
For a split second, I thought he was joking, but quickly realized he was dead serious. That made an impression on me that I would remember years later.
So, years later I am a military pilot flying between Europe and the Middle East regularly. There were certain countries and bases we would stop over to unload cargo, refuel, and get some rest. One was Sigonella Naval Air Station in Sicily.
We used to regularly stay at a lovely hotel there, and we got to know the manager (Salvatore, but we called him "Salvo") really well and we were friends. We used to give him patches and other military things, but one trip we decided to give him a flight jacket, and had a name tag made for him. After that, no matter how late we arrived (if he knew we were coming) he would have the kitchen staff prepare something and he would open up a bottle of something from the bar.
On one trip, we pulled into the hotel and noticed people everywhere, and cars everywhere. We went to the front desk to check in, and Salvo told us there was a very important wedding reception taking place that evening. He was invited as well, and he said he really wanted us to come to the reception. I told him we didn't know anyone and it would be right, but he insisted.
Afterward we went to our rooms and showered. Some of the crew were drinking Crown Royale and playing cards in one of the rooms. I went there and told them Salvo wanted us to go down to the reception in the hotel ballroom, but most didn't want to go. I then said that we had all agreed to go, and if we didn't go it would have shown great disrespect to Salvo, so we went. The problem was, we were horribly under dressed. The best clothes we had were khaki pants, jeans, and polo shirts. We also stood out like sore thumbs, being Americans and military.
Salvo introduced us to everyone, and the reception was like something out of a Hollywood film. Food. Wine. Beautiful women. Men in beautiful suits. Music. Flowers. Dancing.
Salvo literally dragged us to a corner, where an imposing man, impeccably dressed, sat at a table. He was surrounded by people. He greeted us with a smile, but you could feel danger, and power, in his presence. The first time I saw the actor who played Joe Masseria in the HBO series Boardwalk Empire, I had to re-watch the scene, because that character reminded me of this man I met in Sicily. Of course, we were introduced as Salvo's "friends from America." That man looked me over up and down, smiled, and said, "I ah speakah English." Everyone around him nodded in approval and admiration. Then he said, "America! Landa opportunity, no?!"
I didn't know what to say at first, but I wanted to be respectful. So I said, "People say that sir, yes. Thank you. And here in wonderful Sicily, you have the most friendly people, great food, and beautiful women."
I don't know why I included the "women" thing, and I regretted saying it almost immediately. Someone was translating for him in his ear, I guess just to make sure there were no problems communicating, and he listened to my words translated again. He looked at me surprised and puzzled for second, and my heart stopped. Then, he smiled a huge toothy grin, pinched my cheek, and laughed loudly. Everyone then laughed as well.
Well, then we all drank, danced, and laughed. Some of the guys started to hit on the Sicilian women, which bothered me at first (I didn't want any trouble), but everyone was well lubricated and by then no one really seemed to care.
The next day, I asked Salvo, "Who was that guy you introduced us to last night?"
Salvo looked at me like I just made a pass at his mother and said, "Important man! Very important man."
Sounds like good times.
And the guy who told you to shut up, it sucks but it’s better off listening JUST IN CASE because if he was anybody important in that world he would get his crew to try to do damage to you and your friends because guys like that are A##HOLES.
My mom is from Sicily. Salvatore sounds like a great guy :)
But Sicilian mobsters are more vicious than any russian or MS13 character THINKS he is.
My friend is a lawyer who represented Gotti Jr. in his fourth mistrial. He has a number of restaurants and Gotti eats at some of them. I’ve met him. Seems like an OK guy.
And I’ll leave it at that.
As far as respect, they’re pieces of #### a lot of the time and YOU command respect for having been a Pilot in the US Air Force.
I did a number of petty crimes (theft and some other small ####) in my late teens and 20s and had to kick a few bucks to whoever was above me.
My uncle was best man to Carmine Persico, the head of the Columbo family, who recently died.
My uncle got me out of some big trouble 2 or 3 times when other wiseguys wanted to get me for whatever. Uncle would call their big guy and then the older men would decide what would be and we kids had to abide by it.
I’d trade the whole ####ing lot in for one Patriotic American Airman such as yourself.
I wanted SO MUCH to be them when I was young.
Until I realized the whole respect only applied when it didn’t get in the way of money or power.
then it went out the window.
Guys laughing about kicking old men down stairs. Willing to kill someone because they cut them off in a car.
The only big shot or hero in my stories and yours, is you.
Thank you for your service.