.....hey aldo .......

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way back in the '80's .....

in detriot ...

disco was king ....

every body was kung fu fighting ...

crack had reared it ugly head ....


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i was still living down by the univerity of detroit ...

six mile and livernoise area ...

been out of college for a few years ...

lived in an upper flat there for over twelve years ...

it worked out good for me ...

the neighbors were very nice ...

that general area was at one time the place to be ...

livernoise was called the avenue of fashion ...

there was the university district ...

palmer park ...

you had it made ....

if you lived in these areas in the '30's,'40'sand '50's ...

when i lived there ...

the surrounding areas were in decline ...

if you lived causiously ....

you'd get left alone ...

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any how ....

there was a big liquor store ...

a block away on livernoise ...

called the trade winds ....

i was addicted to doritos and coca-cola ...

so, i walked over there all the time ....

on one of those walk overs ...

though the parkng lot ...

i passed this old pinto ...

with some young kids in it ...

what really caught my eye about it ....

was it had a floor mounted car phone in it ...

it seemed out of place ...

this was before cell phones ...

as we know them now ...

i walk into the store ...

look around ...

who do i see ...

of all things ...

it's aldo cella ...

he was on national television ads ...

for cella wine ...

in those commercials ...

he was always surrounded by beautiful young women ...

must be in the area doing public relations ...

with all bigger liquor stores ...

he stuck out like a sore thumb ...

he was mustachiod, middle aged and a little portly ...

but very swave ...

dressed in his signature white suite ...

white vest, hat,and scarf ...

very continental ...

he was jovial ....

and kabitzing with the locals ...

the kids from the pinto come in ...

they walk by him ...

and laugh among themselves ...

aldo brought an air of festivity with him ....

the customers were all in good spirits ...

i get my pop and chips ...

pay for them and start to leave ...

as i'm going out the door ...

aldo's standing there getting some air ...

i stop, say hi to him ...

ask him how long is he going to be in town ...

making small talk ...

people are coming in and out the door as we stand there ..

the kid from the pinto walk out ...

heading to their car ...

as they get to the pinto ...

a half a dozen police cars ...

swoop into the parking lot out of nowhere ...

soon those kids are up against their car ...

and getting hand cuffed ...

turns out ...

they belonged to young boys inc. ....

some drug dealer, called white boy rick ...

recruited young kids to sell crack ...

there was a lot of money it for those kids ...

to tempting for them to resist ..

it was amazing to watch this all go down ...

aldo and i are just standing there with our mouths wide open ...

it was like some televison show ...

with aldo the commercial spot ...

i turn to aldo and say ...

hey aldo ....

welcome to detroit ...