Professional life - Prologue
I was born and raised in one of the many and honest peasant families that populate the countryside on the hills of Monferrato, in Piedmont.
I can say happy childhood, with parents who pamper you and punish you, all at the right time. You begin to treasure the teachings, to understand the difference between good and evil and in the meantime continue to train yourself. The first responsibilities arrive; the school. You behave well because the parents are pleased that you bring home beautiful report cards. The certainties; the parents give you certainties and you realize that you have a safe harbor where to dock in case of rough seas. Adolescence arrives, the critical age (today I can say -more for parents than for children-), the age of discussions, misunderstandings, first loves. What a confusion adolescence !! Then comes the mourning in the family, serious, heavy. It happened to many, unfortunately for the others I was not the only one to suffer the detachment from their father. But in addition to the family pain, another thing has created bewilderment in me. The certainties and certainties given and taught to me were gone. All questioned. It was about rebuilding those certainties, but now it was I who had to do it. It was I who had to build my mental path, but I understood this years later. These are the years in which it is convenient to say that no one can understand you, the rule was to seize the moment, there is no certainty of tomorrow. The last years of the Institute; fake-goliards albeit so sad with the huge exaggerations of alcohol and tobacco to stun you a bit and try to escape from that unwanted and oppressive reality. Result: all week, scholar, worker, manager. Weekend: stunned. It was not a beautiful picture for my mother, a mother that many envied me. Comprehensive, modern, with an extreme availability towards me, wise. Unfortunately for me, for several years, they were badly reciprocated skills. Only later did I understand, even here, the mistakes. During the days of the week when I was in charge, being a farmer, with my twenties, growing vineyards and making quality wine for decennial family customers to carry on my father's work, was not bad at all. But something was missing; something that at that age, with youthful ideals, good feelings and the desire to change the world, pushed me to look for a second job. After some tests at the PRO-LOCO counter of drinks and ice cream in the township, I was ready for the big jump from a restaurant job as an extra. One Sunday some friends told me if I wanted to go to the restaurant with them, I couldn't and I replied that I would join them for coffee. I showed up around half past two and, while I was there, I asked the owner if he needed a waiter. Paolo replied by asking me if I could do something. Impetus mine was a NO but just as impetuously I also said that I had a great desire to learn. I also asked if the coffees he was making were for my friends. To his affirmative answer I stole the tray and going towards the diners room I added: "... you can see if serving these coffees to my friends I have enough politeness to be a waiter or not." When I returned from the hall where there were also other diners the owner told me that I would have to show up the following Sunday for a wedding and work as an extra. The concern was strong and with the contentment of having obtained the first engagement, I could not even breathe. I was literally terrified of not knowing how to do anything but thinking about the moment I entered that room, with the tray of coffees, and with several tables occupied by people who were strange to see me; I literally felt "enjoyed" what was happening. The following Sunday I presented myself at the set time, completely dazed by the fear of making mistakes, some presentations with the "experts" and then ... to learn. The guests arrived, everyone gave me orders, I was a little dazed but I liked it. Aperitifs, photos, all seated: ready-go! Paolo, the owner, at that moment gave me a serving tray, a spoon and a fork in his hand and exclaimed: "... do as the others do!" Beautiful ... terrible ... day. The beginning.
