The Manhattan Miracle on 37th Street { Conclusion - Part 4 of 4 }

The process of moving in together was a long drawn out task.  It was a constant struggle to keep the
one bedroom apt organized and livable.    

Happily, we worked especially well with each other,
running DeFilippo Studio, Inc. and managing the
69 Unit Apt building where we lived and worked.  

We juggled our responsibilities, opening the sound stage
at 7:30 A.M. for shoots, producing TV commercials,
designing and creating special effects, dealing with tenants and building issues into the night.  

After twelve years of this routine, we had become well accustomed to having dinner at 11:00  P.M.

One evening,
after scaring every imaginary monster away
for one of the nutty tenants,  
Dom and I finally had time to sit.

I was determined to create room in our overfilled closets and asked him to spend time getting rid of unused things.                             
"All those ancient suits",  I went on,  " I've never even seen you wear any of em. They're outdated...
like that checkered thing, the corduroy one and that cream one. "

"Oh !",   Dom mused, " Well... let me tell you somethin', Babe",
{ the name he mostly called me unless there was something serious to discuss },

"I can  NEVER  get rid of that cream suit !
That's my  LUCKY  SUIT ! " 

"Y'know, it had to be a good 20 years ago that I wore it for the first time.
I was going to a rehearsal dinner and got ready early 'cause some of the guys were gonna
play a few hands of poker first.  I thought a black shirt and black shoes would look snappy with it. "

"I was hungry and  drove to a diner. Y'know, the one in your old neighborhood near the Police precinct.
It was down the block from where my friend lived. Y'know the place I'm talkin' about ?
What was the name of it  ?  I wonder if its still there. "

"Anyway, when I came out, it started pouring like mad and I saw these two little girls
opening an umbrella. But it wasn't any old umbrella; it was the first time I ever saw
a collapsible umbrella and it fascinated me. I thought, why didn't I invent that !"

"Anyway, I yelled, 'Girls Girls...would you walk me to my car ?'"


"Oh my God !",
my jaw dropped and I suddenly stood with the shock of the unexpected revelation,
"We have to call my sister right away ! "


"What's the matter, Babe ? Did you forget to do something important?"


" No, no.  You have to tell her this story right now or you may never know
just how lucky that suit really is.", I insisted.


Despite the midnight hour on a work night, Gigi was phoned and
Dom unwittingly retold the unfinished story. 
He wanted to finally say how he always won in poker
whenever he wore the Lucky Suit. 

Instead he was interrupted  again with her holler of recognition,
" OH WOW - OH WOW !"  


To everyone's surprise, Dom turned out to be,
not only the Handsome Man in the rainstorm,
but the Motorcycle Man too !

Is it any wonder that the name "Dominic" means "Gift from God" .
He certainly was that for me.

For many happy decades, the hum of that Candy Apple Red Harley was
a delightful reminder of God's mercy in healing me after almost an entire year of being ill !

As for the three piece Lucky Suit, it  will forever remain a cherished item in my closet.

I will remember to be specific and careful
what I ask of God
because

He gave me exactly, precisely what I had asked for... and more !  

WOW ... indeed !

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