The Bucharest neighborhood where I was born, no longer exists. Razed by Romania’s leader at the time, it was replaced by the People’s Palace. A cruel joke, cruelty being all too common in that country at that time.
My first taste of salt water was when I was seven, when my father took me to visit the Black Sea. Not an easy thing for him to do, meant to make me forget I’d just been pushed off a balcony by a neighbor who did not agree with our religious beliefs. It was about that same time that I also found out we would be leaving.
My first view of freedom was when our train crossed the Hungarian border into Austria. Fired for wanting to emigrate, no money to speak of, my father tried to finance our trip by selling Romanian salami in the Vienna train station. Needless to say, it did not go well.
That experience became the backbone of my motivation. It led to my relative success in the US, and helped to make me the man I am today. National and international events set the stage on which I’m now able to act.
As you read, I’m sure that you’ll agree. Life’s many twists and turns often lead to unexpected adventures.