Five Years to Live

by Frank Zaccari

  Donna Harris’ life was following her script. She enrolled at the State University of New York at Binghamton where she began a course of study in sociology. Her passion was children’s rights, and her goal was to become a children’s rights advocate for the state or a local county. She pledged a sorority and moved into the sorority house with twenty-five “sisters.” After the first year’s hazing process, Donna became one of the sorority leaders. She was determined they would do more than host parties and social events. Her goal was for the sisters to be actively involved in children’s projects for the community. She coordinated visits to the pediatric ward at the local hospital and arranged for internships with the children’s receiving home for displaced children. If a program involved children, Donna was front and center. Her passion was inspiring.

  The depressed economic conditions in 1983 were not limited to western New York. Things weren’t much better in central New York. Donna was thrilled when she secured a position with the Delaware County Department of Social Services located in Delhi. She was back home and in the community she loved. Delhi is located in the foothills of the Catskill Mountains and is the county seat of Delaware County. The village of Delhi is approximately three and a half hours from New York City and less than two hours from Syracuse and the state capital, Albany. It is a great location for hunting, fishing, camping, hiking, and farming. It fit perfectly with the life Donna wanted. She found an apartment and, with her mother, her older sister Karen, and younger sister Carol, started to make it a home.

  The anchor store in Delhi is Aces, so Donna and Karen went to Aces to buy contact paper and basic supplies. Michael Battaglia spotted Donna while she was still in the parking lot. He maneuvered himself to a location where he could see her as she entered the store. Donna and her sister separated, and Donna headed toward Michael to find contact paper. Her long, flowing, auburn hair seemed to be sprinkled with angel dust; her eyes were green to the second power; and her very attractive figure struck Michael with the intensity of a thunderbolt. “Okay,” he said to himself, “think up something to say to her that isn’t lame.” He walked toward Donna and said, “Good morning, Miss, may I help you find something and please say yes.” Wow, he thought, that was lame. Donna stopped and looked him up and down. She read his name tag, “Michael, Manager,” and thought to herself, Cute, but a little too eager; he must be new. Finally she said, “Okay, yes, Michael the manager, you can help me find contact paper.”

  “Okay. Let me take you to the contact paper area.” As they walked Michael said, “Well, now that you know my name, may I ask your name? You know, so I don’t have to keep calling you Miss.”

  Donna thought, Cute, friendly, and can actually carry on a coherent conversation; he must not be from around here. “Actually,” Donna replied, “I rather like being called Miss, but you can call me Donna.”

  “Okay, Donna, so what type of contact paper are you looking for?” Michael said, trying to go back into professional mode.

  “Well, I am not an expert in the area of contact paper, so I guess just your basic contact paper.” Donna saw through his act and said, a little flirtatiously, “I didn’t realize Aces has a variety of contact paper styles. ”

  “Well, you are in luck! We are the contact paper capital of Delaware County. So are you from the area?” Michael asked with a smile as he gave up on trying to fool her with his professional demeanor.

  Donna smiled and said, “No, I live in Manhattan, but I drove out here to the ‘boonies’ to check out the contact paper capital of Delaware County.” They both laughed.

  “So other than buying contact paper and making sarcastic comments to Aces store managers, what do you do here in Delhi?”

  “Well, Michael the manager, are you this inquisitive with all your customers?” Donna asked with a smile.

  “We are your friendly neighborhood store,” Michael laughed. “In fact, we are the only real store in town.”

  “Touché, Michael! Okay, I work for the Delaware County Department of Social Services. It’s my first job out of college. What brings you to Delhi? You don’t sound like one of the locals—I should know because I grew up here.”

  “I am from the Buffalo area. This is my first job out of college too. So we both have been banished to Delhi to start our professional careers. I’ll bet it will make a good story when we are both rich and famous.” They both laughed. “Well, here we are at our smorgasbord of contact paper, Donna.”

  “Thank you for your wonderful personal service, Michael the manager,” Donna laughed.

  “Anytime, Donna the social worker! I hope I see you again soon.”

  “There is a good chance of that, given you are the only real store in Delhi.”

  Michael gathered up his courage and asked, “Let’s not wait until you need more contact paper because I hear contact paper lasts for years.” He took a deep breath and then asked, “Would you like to meet for coffee or something someday?” Wow, that was smooth, Michael thought with sarcasm.

  “Sure. I work across the street, so why don’t you walk over someday when you want coffee or something ?” They both laughed.

  “Not to sound overly eager or desperate or pathetic, but will you be working tomorrow?” Michael asked.

  Donna paused for a moment and thought, What the hell. He is cute and friendly, and it’s just coffee. “I start at nine. There is a coffee shop next door.”

  Michael, trying to contain his excitement, asked, “How about eight fifteen, before you start?”

  “Okay, eight fifteen it is.”

  “Well, Donna the social worker, I have to go play manager, so I will see you tomorrow at eight fifteen.”

  “I look forward to it,” Donna said with a smile.

  “Okay then, tomorrow,” Michael said as he walked away, trying to remain cool and collected on the outside. When he was safely out of Donna’s sight, he broke into an elaborate touchdown dance.

  Donna’s sister, Karen, spotted her and said, “God, how long does it take you to find contact paper?”

  Donna grabbed her sister’s arm and quickly led her away from where she thought Michael was and excitedly said, “Karen, you aren’t going to believe this. I met this cute guy, and we are going to have coffee tomorrow morning. ”

  “I don’t believe you, Donna. You are back in town less than one week and you have a date already! I haven’t had a date in two months. Okay, show me who he is!”

  “No, he went back to work, and lower your voice. I don’t want him to hear you.”

  “He works here in the store?” Karen whispered with a mock disgust. “Are you resorting to dating stock boys, Donna?”

  “He is one of the managers. Only Carol,” Donna said, referring to their youngest sister, “still dates stock boys.” The two sisters laughed and headed to the cash register. Meanwhile Michael was still doing the dance of joy in the warehouse.

  The next morning, Michael was both excited and nervous. He stopped at a grocery store and bought a pink carnation. He considered a rose but thought that might be too much. Michael was standing in front of the coffee shop by 8:00 a.m. so he wouldn’t be late.

  In between decorating her apartment, Donna spent the afternoon and evening giving her sisters and mother the details of her chance meeting with Michael. “It’s like this really cute guy comes out of nowhere, and we just start talking. He was so funny, and he looked me in the eyes when he spoke.”

  Her fifteen-year-old sister Carol said, “That is why I never go anywhere unless I’m looking cute. You never know who you might run into.” They all laughed.

  Her mother said, “Wow, a cute guy in Delhi who isn’t wearing hunting clothes or chewing tobacco and speaks in complete sentences. You hit the jackpot, sweetheart.” This brought more laughter. Before her sisters and mother left, Donna went through her closet to determine the perfect outfit .

  “Okay, he saw me in jeans, boots, an off-the-shoulder top and my leather jacket. So do I go with the professional look? Maybe a skirt, a silky
blouse, and low heels or the casual slacks, a cute top, and flats?”

  Karen jumped in, “Well, he has already checked out your butt in your tight jeans. I would go with the young professional look. Wear your black skirt, your floral knit top, and two-inch heels. That way you can show off your legs and still look like the young career woman. You don’t want to look too eager or slutty on the first date.” They all laughed.

  “Try it on,” her mother urged. “We’ll help you accessorize.” After six or seven different outfit combinations, they agreed with Karen. Donna would wear the black linen pencil skirt, floral knit top, low black heels, simple stud earrings, and a gold chain necklace.

  “Okay, ladies, do I go with the hair up or down?”

  “Go with it down and show off your beautiful hair,” was her mother’s advice. Her sisters agreed. Donna was ready.

  About 8:15 a.m. Donna drove slowly by the coffee shop to see if Michael was there. She smiled as she saw him in black slacks and a blue button-down shirt holding a flower. She said to herself, okay, he gets points for effort and style. She parked the car and walked across the street.

  The coffee date went very well. They talked about school, why they choose their majors, what they hoped to achieve professionally, and how they ended up in Delhi. Before leaving they made a date for dinner Friday night.

  Dinner Friday night went well, so Michael and Donna started dating. Michael told her about his travel schedule, which would keep him on the road for six to eight weeks. The travel schedule wasn’t a deal breaker, so it wasn’t long before Michael and Donna were inseparable when he was in town. When his remodel locations were within two hours, either Donna would drive to see him or Michael would drive back to Delhi.

  Chapter 3

  The Next Step

  For the remainder of 1983 and 1984, both Michael and Donna were happy and doing well at their jobs and with each other. Michael had visited the Harris family several times, and Donna started to meet the Battaglia family when they came to Delhi to visit Michael. Initial reactions from both families were positive. The Harrises’ biggest concerns were that Michael would get promoted or take a better job away from Delhi. The Battaglias were concerned that he wouldn’t. Typical family reactions!

  In September 1984 Michael’s sister, Anne, gave birth to Christopher, the first Battaglia grandchild. Everyone was thrilled as they prepared for the baptism. Michael and his sister Mary were going to be Christopher’s godparents, a huge honor and responsibility for Italian Catholics. Michael asked Donna to attend the baptism with him in Buffalo. “We can stay with my parents or my brother Joe. You will get to meet part of the extended family at one time. Counting aunts, uncles, and cousins we’re only talking fifty or sixty people. My brother Tony, from California, whom you met a couple months ago, probably won’t come, but most of the Dunkirk family will be there. ”

  “Wow, part of your extended family is fifty or sixty people. I don’t think my entire family tree is more than sixty people. How big is the entire extended family?”

  Michael said, “If we count both sides of the family, I’m guessing three hundred plus. Hey, we are Italian Catholics. In the Bible, where it says go forth and populate the world, my family thought God meant for them to personally populate the world.” They both laughed.

  “Let me tell you something, buddy, you better not plan on me have a litter of children if we ever get married,” Donna laughed. “But seriously, Michael, do you think they will like me? After all I’m not Italian or Catholic.”

  “You don’t have to worry about the Italian Catholic thing anymore. My brother Tony broke that barrier with his first marriage. With Italians, once the tradition is broken, it is okay for others.” Michael noticed Donna still looked concerned. Then he said, “Here is the thing about the Battaglia family. They will love you because I love you. It’s that simple.” He leaned over and kissed her.

  “So tell me the process so I’ll know what to expect and what to do or not do.”

  “Well, the first thing that is going to happen is my mother is going to take you around and introduce you to everyone. So be prepared to meet a lot of aunts and uncles. Don’t worry; there isn’t a quiz to see how many names you remember. Besides, if there is, just say every guy’s name is Tony or Frank and every woman is Mary or Anne. You will be right most of the time.”

  Donna laughed. “So your family recycles names?”

  “We have to. Try to remember three hundred different names. I have one brother named Anthony Joseph and the other is Joseph Anthony. Anne’s middle name is Marie and Mary’s middle name is Anne.” They both laughed and prepared for the long drive to Buffalo.

  Michael bought a “godfather” hat for the baptism. It was like the hat Michael Corleone wore at the baptism in the movie The Godfather. The hat received a number of comments and jokes, but Michael didn’t care because the godfather and godmother hold the place of honor.

  As predicted, Carm took Donna and introduced her to all the relatives. Everyone told her she was a beautiful girl and shared a short story about Michael. The Battaglias made her feel very comfortable and welcome. Carm finally returned Donna to Michael. Joe, Mary, and Anne all looked at each other and said, “Well, it looks like Michael and Donna will be the next wedding.” Anne said, “They look very happy together.”

  Mary then said what they all were thinking, “The big test will come when Michael gets promoted or takes another job. I don’t see him staying in Delhi. He is a city boy, and I know he wants to get back to Buffalo.”

  Joe added, “Do you think Donna would leave Delhi?”

  “I don’t know,” Mary answered. “She has lived in that community her whole life, and all her family is there. I would hate to see Michael pass on a big opportunity to stay in Delhi. He is getting great reviews about his work, and he told me he is getting calls from headhunters with offers in Philadelphia, Boston, and Albany. The money isn’t enough to leave where he is now, but he told me he has started talking with a company that has a big operation in the Buffalo area.”

  Joe said, “He told me about that place in Williamsville. He said he would take that job in a heartbeat.”

  “I guess we’ll have to see what happens,” Anne said. “I hope it works out. They are so happy together. ”

  After they got back to Delhi, Michael and Donna continued to excel at their jobs. In early 1985 Donna received a promotion, and Michael’s name started to circulate for a promotion at Aces and other companies. Michael talked with Donna about the possibility of them leaving Delhi. Donna never said yes or no. Her answer was, “We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it. Right now everything is speculation.”

  Donna talked with her family about the possibility of Michael leaving Delhi. She was torn between staying in the area where she grew up and loved or relocating to a larger city. In June she had a long conversation with her mother.

  “Would you move as his girlfriend, or will you want more?” her mother asked.

  “I won’t move unless we have a commitment.”

  “Does that commitment require a ring?” her mother asked, trying to keep the hopefulness out of her voice.

  “We don’t have to be married. I would go if we were engaged and had a date set.”

  “Does he know this?”

  “Well,” Donna said as she tried to choose her words, “I haven’t put it in those exact words.”

  “Well...” her mother said mockingly, “maybe it’s time you use those exact words. Men stink at picking up on subtle hints.”

  “I don’t want to pressure him into making the ‘me or your career’ decision.” She truncated her statement and intentionally left off ‘because what if he picks his career over me?’

  “Sweetheart, Michael is a rising star. Everyone can see that Delhi is just a stop along the road for him.” She said with heartfelt concern, “You are going to have to decide if your path is here or with him. ”

  “I don’t want to give up my career, Mom,” Donna said. There was a
great load of frustration in her words. “I am doing well with the county. I love my job and the people I work with. I think I am making a difference there.”

  “You are making a difference, sweetie,” her mom answered empathetically, “but you are reaching that decision point that faces every small-town girl. Do you stay in the small town or do you give it a try in the big city?”

  “How did you make the decision, Mom?”

  “For me it was easy,” she said with a sigh. “Your father is the great love of my life. He was here and had no plans to leave.”

  “What if he did want to leave, Mom? What if he had an opportunity years ago? Would you have left your family, your friends, and everything you know and love?”

  “I don’t know,” she said honestly. “I never had to make that decision, sweetheart. But it appears you will.”

  “What should I do, Mom?” Donna finally asked.

  “Follow your heart,” her mother said with a gentle pat of Donna’s hand, “Listen to the quiet whispers in your mind. They will tell you the choices that will help you the most.”

  Donna hugged her mother and softly cried. “It might be a moot point. Maybe he won’t get this offer.”

  “He might not get this one, sweetheart, but one is coming soon. Trust your heart. You have to live your life, not mine, not your sisters’, and not what your dad would prefer.”

  Over the Fourth of July holiday weekend, Michael was telling Donna about the latest interview he had with Marshalls. “I think it went well. I like what they are doing. I like Vince, the guy that will be my manager; the fact that it is a promotion in title and money; and that my base will be in the Buffalo area.”