The Blink of an I By John Ciampa 1 The Blink of an I Ad aspera ad astra 2 PROLOGUE .................................................................8 THINKER, TINKER, WARRIOR AND WORRIER (STAGE NAMES) ............12 PELLIGIRINI- THE NEW PILGRIMS ..........................14 “DO IT YOURSELF HISTORICITY” ..............................................................18 SONG FOR MY FATHER ..............................................................................23 1936-1946 MELTING IN THE POT .........................28 RETURN OF THE PRODIGAL MOTHER .....................................................32 HOBO-KINDERˆ ............................................................................................34 RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS ........................................................................36 A STITCH IN TIME .........................................................................................38 IT TAKES A VILLAGE .....................................................................................40 MURDER ON HENCHMAN ST ....................................................................44 SAINT ANTHONY’S SCHOOL .....................................................................45 ADRIFT ON AN ICEBERG ............................................................................48 ROD RULE .....................................................................................................51 THE SEARCH FOR LIFE ON NEIGHBORING PLANETS ...........................54 D-DAY ............................................................................................................59 THEATRICAL DEBUT ....................................................................................60 BABY SISTER .................................................................................................61 ANOTHER STITCH IN TIME: ........................................................................62 WAR TOYS ....................................................................................................64 WILD MUSHROOMS ....................................................................................66 BUILDING BLOCKS OF MUSIC / BUILDING MUSIC BLOCKS ................67 VENERATION ................................................................................................70 MORE STITCHES IN TIME: ..........................................................................71 A NAIL IN TIME .............................................................................................74 3 1946-1956 Giant step ..............................................76 AGE OF REASON .........................................................................................76 WOP WARP ...................................................................................................83 WHITE MOUNTAIN GULAG ........................................................................85 AGE OF INTROSPECTION ..........................................................................87 DISCOVERING COLUMBUS .......................................................................91 YOUNG MAN WITH A HORN .....................................................................95 THE BRIDGE ..................................................................................................96 SUPERMARKET .............................................................................................98 LIFE OF CRIME .............................................................................................99 AUTHOR, AUTHOR ....................................................................................101 NOBLESS OBLIGE .....................................................................................103 SOCIAL CLIMBING ....................................................................................107 HALCYON SUMMER ..................................................................................112 DISCOVERING DC .....................................................................................115 LANDING ON PLANET MANHATTAN .....................................................119 MAIDEN VOYAGE ......................................................................................120 UNIFORMITY ..............................................................................................122 1956-1966 THE IVY CURTAIN ...............................128 ANN ARBOR ...............................................................................................128 RECREATIONAL THERAPY / LOBOTOMIES ...........................................129 BIRTH OF MY DAUGHTER ........................................................................137 RAT PIMP / BRAIN SURGEON ..................................................................139 SURVEY RESEARCH ...................................................................................142 DRAFT DODGE ..........................................................................................144 THE CORNELL LAW SCHOOL ..................................................................145 BEU GESTE I ...............................................................................................149 NEW YORK JUSTICE ..................................................................................156 4 I’LL TAKE MANHATTAN .............................................................................161 UP AND AWAY ...........................................................................................165 SYNANON ..................................................................................................171 “OR WOULD YOU RATHER SWING ON A STAR…” ...............................174 1966-1976 SCREEN DEBITS ................................179 JEW FEET ....................................................................................................180 BIRTH OF MY SON CHRIS. ........................................................................182 PSYCHEDELICS ..........................................................................................185 GURUS ........................................................................................................188 STRANGE INTERLUDE ..............................................................................193 BEAU GESTE II ............................................................................................194 “LETS PUT ON A SHOW” ..........................................................................195 UPS VAN MAN ...........................................................................................199 HANOMAG VAN MAN ..............................................................................203 ALL GREEK TO ME .....................................................................................209 JANE ............................................................................................................214 CURTAINS FOR HOLLYWOOD ................................................................220 CAPE COD ..................................................................................................227 1976-1986 CIRCUITS .............................................228 “I’LL TAKE MANHATTAN…ONE MORE TIME ” ......................................229 TECHNOTOPIA ..........................................................................................231 TELEFORUM ...............................................................................................231 FAYROUZ ....................................................................................................243 ELLEN ..........................................................................................................246 INTERACTIVE VIDEO .................................................................................249 COLUMBIAN CATHOLICISM ....................................................................253 TWIN ............................................................................................................258 ROCHESTER ...............................................................................................259 5 SUE ..............................................................................................................261 1986-1996 COLD WARMTH .................................265 BEAR HUG ..................................................................................................265 AS THE CROW FLIES .................................................................................277 COLD WARRIORS LAST STAND ...............................................................279 BILL CLINTON ............................................................................................282 PLACIDO DOMINGO ................................................................................285 RECYCLED LOVE .......................................................................................287 PICTOMETRY ..............................................................................................290 DAS BOAT ...................................................................................................294 EPIPHANY ...................................................................................................300 SPANISH VIRGINS ......................................................................................302 ANGEL INVESTOR .....................................................................................303 1996-2006 MILLENNIUM CRISIS ..........................305 JUDY 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