My Memories
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One evening we heard a loud knock on the door. It was the mail man; a devoted friend of the family who came to inform confidentially my mother that the post office had received, in the late afternoon, a telegram from the Recruiting Office of Cosenza to be directed to the Carabinieri of the village, containing a list of names of young men to be called in the army immediately. In the list was also my name. He urged me to leave town without delay because, early the following morning, the police would be knocking on my door asking for me. This news was unexpected, shocking and devastating more for my mother than for myself. But there was no choice, I had to leave promptly. I didn’t even have the chance and the time to pass by Murachi and say good-bye to my mild-mother. It was almost dark and mother, crying ,started to prepare a small package containing some essential change of clothes and some other selected necessary supplies. I was then almost nineteen years old and even though young I was not afraid to embark myself alone in such a long, dangerous and distant voyage. My mother instead was petrified but she knew there were no alternatives. The itinerary was as follows: by foot from Scigliano to Cosenza (fifty Kilometers) following the railroad tracks, hoping to find along the way some faster means of transportation. I would spend one to two days in Cosenza to rest. Then from Cosenza take a local train to Paola where I would catch the express train coming from Sicily directed to Naples. This was my final destination and where I had a lot of relatives including Dorina. A total distance of less than three hundred miles, but it seemed like a trip to the moon. The last time I took the same trip, many years ago, I was traveling in luxury. Because of this stop-over in Cosenza, I had to mention, finally, to mother about the love affair with Adriana. This wonderful girl who cared for me sincerely and honestly. When she found out this was going on for more than three years she couldn’t believe it, and the first question she asked, with emotion was: "You haven’t done anything to this girl to compromise yourself, have you?" I assured her that, except for kisses and embraces, nothing else had happened between us two and she did not have to worry. Imagine! If something really had happened between me and Adriana which, after all, was normal and could have happened since we knew each other for three years in a passionate way, my entire life could have been completely different. For the better? Who knows! But it was not written in the book of destiny to be so; I had to follow the course already assigned to me. It was four o’clock in the morning when mother and I left home. The stars were still bright up in the sky but not for long. The air was cool with a gentle breeze while a few birds were starting to announce the end of another night and the beginning of another dawn. Mother and I were alone in the little path leading upward towards the railroad station. I turned around to see the house once again before it disappeared, in the event my future was such that I wouldn’t come back anymore. We walked in silence. That type of silence loaded with deep thoughts of fear for the unknown, of uncertainty for the future, of passion for the ones left behind, not knowing if this was the last good-by. Thoughts rendered dark because of the gravity and the seriousness of the occasion. Thoughts coming from a scared mind, tortured by the knowledge of leaving behind everything that is dear to you. These are the moments of spiritual vibrations that elevate your thoughts to the "One" above, for help-- This was the way we felt, mother and I, during those moments before we separated. I could tell, by the river of tears running down her cheeks, her mind was tortured. "Oh Mother! Mother! How much I love you, and how I miss you". The road was deserted, and I hoped not to be seen or encountered by anyone. We arrived at the place we had to separate. I looked at my mother’s eyes wet with tears and then held her tight in my arms for a few minutes. In an explosion of love I kissed her good-bye and moved away quickly with the little bundle she had prepared for me, the night before, over my shoulder. If I hadn’t left her this way I would have broken down and not left at all. The only words I remember she said, when we separated, were: "May God guide you. Write to me as soon as you can, don’t keep me waiting and worrying." My dear mother was left absolutely alone in this tragic world. The first lights of the morning were beginning to show. I knew I had a long walk ahead of me and the speed of my steps started to increase in rhythm. Luckily I had a good comfortable pair of shoes. Along the way I was able to see the many destructive actions of the war. By 11:00 A.M. I reached Rogliano, a town about eighteen miles from Scigliano. I had covered that distance in six hours, that is almost three miles an hour. During this long walk my thoughts were erratic because I was thinking of the recent past and places as if I wouldn’t see them any more. My mind was fluctuating between Murachi, Scigliano, my relatives and my friends, etc-- Later, I started concentrating on the future. What would I say to Adrian! What would I do in Naples! How would I support myself! The little money mother had given me would last only for a short time, and then what? All these thoughts were bombarding my mind and, at the same time, made the walking much easier and less tiresome, while covering the distance much faster.
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A magnificent story of life that know the meaning and the joy of success, the pain of failure and the affliction of disappointment, but never the frustration of defeat, because guided by a flame that never reached exhaustion: The flame of love, honor, sacrifice and ambition for a better tomorrow. Dr. Aldo R. Bruni was born in a small town: Scigliano, Italy, in the ancient Bruni Residence, dating back to the 15th Century. The Bruni His carefree childhood and adolescence ends suddenly, when the hardship of W.W.II takes him away from home and his father, Dr. Filip Bruni, decides to immigrate to America. When Dr. Aldo R. Bruni moves to the Metropolis of Chicago, Illinois, his life changes forever. He obtains a medical degree at the University of Bologna, Italy, then completes his internship at Cook County Hospital, Chicago. Here, he learns the practical application of medicine, sees human suffering at its worse, but also triumphs, whenever he can alleviate pain of his patients through medical intervention in the hospital or his own Medical Center later on. His life holds many adventures in store.