20 Rms, Rv Vu
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©2006 Linda Della Donna
It’s a dark and stormy night, November 11, 2000. The Saw Mill River Parkway is an asp of a road that snakes to a narrow hollow in front of Reader’s Digest. A speeding motorist cuts sharp right, forcing a driver to lose control of his car. The 25-year young driver isn’t wearing a seat belt. And as the motorist disappears into the shadows, the Pontiac flips and rolls like a dime. Its driver rockets out a side window, 40’ through the air, into a tree.
Fast forward to August 22, 2006. Not a cloud in the sky. I’m headed for New York – Just boarded an express to Grand Central – To a Charles Cortes, Inc. job site. 35 minutes later, I’m on 42nd Street hailing a taxi. At 71st, I tip the cabbie two bucks, check my belongings, step out into the sunshine, and dial my cell.
“Where are you?”
“It’s the building with the big dumpster in front.”
A moment later, I’m there, surrounded by a sea of sweated muscled men toting sheet rock, hammers, electric saws, wood scraps, PVC piping.
“George!”
“Up here! Take the elevator!”
Meet George L. Griffin III, young man in black cotton shirt, words “6 out of 5 people don’t understand fractions” splayed across his chest. He wears clean jeans, a smile big as a pizza, and he’s posed like Superman without a cape – Standing, face forward, hands on hips, warm breeze ruffling his shirt – On top a city roof, looking like he just landed from Planet Krypton, admiring the Manhattan skyline.
“Isn’t it beautiful?”
That’s some shirt you got there, George.
Yeah, do you believe people actually tell me they don’t get it.
George, can I get your picture?
Too late. The camera viewer displays a black blur.
How big is this building?
62’ high. It’s going to be in Architectural Digest. We’re under contract. Started this job second week of February. Got a one year contract. Plan to be done by Thanksgiving. I hope.
How much?
13 mil, as is. 14 mil, finished.
How many rooms?
We’re interrupted. George flips his phone, motions a finger to his lips.
Paolo.
30 bags of sand. Is that enough?
That’s it?
You sure?
What else?
JV channel?
How many pieces?
Box of 10?
Okay.
He flips the phone shut. Opens a Blackberry. Two pointy fingers tap.
Do you have a title?
Watch your step. I don’t have a title. I have a job. I wanted you to see where I work. I’m really doing something down here.
Everybody in New York has a title.
Okay. Sr. Executive Coordinator. That’s what it says on my business card.
What’s this? Can I take your picture?
Drawings. See that? I do this. Step-by-step building construction. Plans. Change orders. Electricians, plumbers. I tell them what to do. This is the original layout. Did you know there is a difference between a cellar and a basement.
I aim. Shoot. Another fuzzy black blur.
“You got a picture of the floor. Don’t you know how to use that thing?”
What room is this?
That’s the servants’ room.
It’s a very large room. How many servants will sleep in there?
Don’t know. Don’t care. But that’s where they’ll all sleep. Follow me. This is the garden entrance. Where the servants will enter.
What about the upstairs entrance. Will anyone use that?
No. I think it’s for show.
How many rooms in this house?
Let’s see. There’s the master bedroom suite. That’s one whole floor. There’s the living area, the multi-media room, the library, the extra bedroom, the other extra bedroom, the other other extra extra bedroom. There’s a lot of bathrooms. One on each floor. There’s six floors.
Stop! What’s the square footage?
That’s a very good question. I’d say more than 6600. Does that sound right? But it’s up and down. This is the city.
Where are you going now?
The other job. That’s on Park Avenue. And don’t look up when we walk down the street. I hate it when people do that. It’s a sure sign you’re from out of town. I hate that. The place is crawling with tourists.
You’re a very busy guy. Do you like what you do?
I love what I do. I’m up at 5 a.m. every morning, sometimes earlier to get down here by 7. It’s a long day. And a long week. Some nights I don’t get home until after 9. Then it’s straight to bed. And the next day, my schedule begins again.
What else do you do for Charles Cortes, Inc.?
I built their website. I handle that stuff, too. Everybody asks me for help for tech stuff. I can do html. Big mistake. Sometimes I wish I didn’t know about computers.
Can I have the link? I’d like to put it in my article.
Sorry. The website is closed to the public. It’s a private online data base. User name and password is required to go to the site. I hold the password.
Do you do banners?
Oh, Ma, I’m so busy. Please. Don’t ask.
George, do you remember where you were 5 years ago at this time?
Long pause - as I wait for him to recall that dark and stormy night.
I have no idea. I don’t really remember.
Any idea where you want to be 5 years from now.
Five years from now I’d love to work on reconstructing one of my own buildings. I’d sell it before it is complete. Walk away clean. I’ll float the bank’s money. I’d like to be living down here with Colleen, have a couple kids.
What about 9/11, George. Didn’t it hurt building?
9/11 had a minute effect on building. Maybe for one year after. Now nobody cares. This is New York City. You can’t kill it. No matter what you do, it will always grow. It will always be here. It’s New York City! It’s the Metropolis! Well, at least I think so. I could be wrong. I don’t know. What do you think?
On the walk back to Grand Central, I do the tourist thing - I look up. Yes. I agree. New York is an amazing City. And so is George L. Griffin III.
Linda Della Donna is a freelance writer. She loves to do interviews. Perhaps you would like Della Donna to interview you. If so, be sure to contact her at littleredmailbox@aol.com. Della Donna makes her home with her small dog, Izzy, and his little cat, Tux, 20 miles north of where the World Trade Center used to be. She also writes for widows. Learn more about Della Donna by visiting her website and her blog.
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April 20th, 2007 at 11:54 am
I read this article when Linda first posted it and did not realize she was interviewing her son!
I’ve got to start reading more carefully and not skimming these posts.