Carragee Consulting

Cannoli, cash and good wages

My dad and his siblings all grew up in the projects in New York. Every so often. my uncle tells me a story of what their childhood was like that sounds like a scene from the Sopranos.

In this scene, Fat Carmine, is making the weekly pickup at the shipping yard.

I deeply wish I had recorded my uncle telling me this story, but as with any family story I suppose it will grow to a tall tale, twisted by time, telling and recollection.

It was the late 1960s and a 19 year old Irish/Italian kid from the neighborhood is asking around for a summer job between semesters as SUNY. Uncle Pat puts him in touch with someone who is gonna help him get a barge pilots license and a real good job up state, making 4-5 times minimum wage.

It all works to plan. He’s got the job and each week when he picks up his cash pay envelope, Fat Carmine is waiting to get his 1/3 share and to tell him to work hard at college and not to screw up. Then he offers him cannoli.

When I first heard this story I marveled at the corruption. How could this have been so normal and accepted in my parents lifetime?!

The more I think about it, nothing has really changed, except that the middlemen would resent being called fat and they might not share their cannoli.