Two Cents
So, where do I begin..I suppose todays date would be a good place to start. On this day of March 21st
2013, I was playing a composition of mine on the piano "Time Machine" It is a jazz instrumental,
64 bar form. It modulates through a bunch of key centers real nice with space and long tones. I wanted it
to sound like a passage through years of time. Hey! What can I say I nailed it and when I play it, feels like a
time machine.
I got off the piano and wandered over to the computer. I begin my journey of a thousand miles with my first step.
This is a common tale of family...I hear all of the time from my people that no families get along. It is
the norm that nobody talks to another in family. So is this true? I think not or at least hope not.
Certainly is plenty of hate in this world and my family has contributed gererously. Hate is a word I heard alot
when I was growing up.
Actually still hear it in my family..I was trained to use this word. I remember the very last time
I did. It was somewhere in my twenties, in one of the many bands I played in and I was talking to
Tony Albano ( the drummer) I told him I hated the keyboard player...He looked me cold in the eye and
said "I don't hate anyone".
I was embarassed. It was a good lesson.
Today is a new day and low and behold, here I am back at the keyboard
of the computer returning from the other keyboard (Piano) I just played
Time Machine and am rolling back...to about 1970 ... about my father Paul Sahagian
..Paul had this fascination with criminals and thieves.
Anyway to get back to topic. We had this neighbor my surrogate father and mentor Frank Madden.
His brother was sort or an organized crime guy from Brighton, Ma. His name was Jigsy. I love
that name. I am guessing there is probably only one Jigsy in the universe..great name "Jigsy".
Jigsy dealt in hot stuff stolen off trucks, airport or what ever..I think he was also a
construction contractor. So I would always hear his name, Paul was absolutely mesmerized by
this character. He hooked Paul up with a brand new Chevy, very hot, the numbers were filed off
so it could not be traced back to the owner. Paul was promised a new set of numbers so he could
register the car. The thieves were slow on delivering the new number and Paul was a nervous wreck.
"Where is my numbers?" He screamed over the phone. "ok on Thursday?" This went on for about a month.
Meanwhile in driveway was a stolen car with no numbers unregistered. A brand new Chevy Paul purchased
for $900. Great deal! Finally after numerous phone calls to the bad guys, they brought over a new serial number tag.
I went out in the driveway and watched my delighted father screw in the tag inside the front door.
The car was registered and Paul proudly drove his his brand new Chevy without a hitch...
About 3 months later we received a visit from a small entourage of state troopers and
local law enforcement.
The family gathered around the living room picture window. As you would expect Paul was sweating bullets.
Strangest thing as I remember, the car was just towed away. They just took it! I can not remember if Paul was questioned
or charged with a crime. I think not.
This all occured in Burlington, Mass. at the home I grew up in on Bassett ave.
The event did not go unnoticed. One of my friends Chuck Shea heard from his father
who was local big shot Lawyer and Senator about the incident and told everyone as
well as taunting me. I was a little humiliated, but I was young and I was used to
being embarrased by my father.
Betty Eterian...you see when my grandmother (paternal side) died the bulk of
the inheritance went to Betty..This outraged Rose Sahagian, my father and mother.
They did not talk for decades I guess I was about 9 years old all of a sudden I would not see my two first
cousins for 40 years... We were close before this.
at the same time I remember I was being bullied at the bus stop on the way to school
by a kid a little older and much bigger. I was scared, I dreaded going to the bustop
...My mother was concerned. My parents got together with my
aunt and uncle Betty and Paul Eterian they came to my house one morning and they brought their son
my first cousin Paul Jr. He was to go to school with me on this day. Paul was a year older than me.
He was a big boy and was not afraid of this bully..he gave this bully "Harper" a taste of his own medicine.
I was never bothered by him again...This is was when our family worked...I have fond memories of my cousins
preceding the great inheritance disaster.... I met with my cousins around 1999 about 40 years after this
and we all agreed we were sort of cheated by the parents in ability to get over this inheritance dispute.
We missed all those years we could have had relations. So much time had passed we really did not know one another.
I did enjoy the brief time we spent some time. but hav not seen them now for about a decade