OUT OF BODY (AND MECHANICAL) EXPERIENCES
Leave the Gun, Take the Ravioli by THOMAS GRECO, PUBLISHER Last summer, when the world was going to crap and there seemed like there was a protest, riot or demonstration on every street corner in the country, I (like many Americans) felt the need to get some more protection for my family. So at the age of 60, I decided to buy a handgun for the first time in my life. Now, when I need advice on weapons, I look to one man and one man only: Edward R. Day of Collision Restoration in Fairfield. Eddie is not only knowledgeable about weapons, but he is also a human encyclopedia on World War II (his dad was an ace fighter pilot who shot down Nazis). So, who better to ask? Eddie was more than happy to help me. In fact, he and a couple of friends (Bobby and Kenny) took me out to my first shooting range to practice. Now, I have held a shotgun but never a handgun, so this was an unusual experience for me. When we arrived at the range, the owner came up to Eddie and the guys, and he apparently knew them very well. I was definitely in the right company.
10 | New Jersey Automotive | December 2021
Once we started shooting, it took me a while to get comfortable, but eventually, I actually hit the target instead of the wall behind it. Afterwards, the guys wanted to go to dinner. And I thought the bullets were going to be the scariest part of the night! As you know by now, I am the pickiest eater on earth. But these guys had taken their time and spent their money to teach me how to shoot, so I couldn’t suggest something like hot dogs or pizza. And if I did, Eddie would likely say (as he does EVERY TIME we go out to eat), “You are the worst f#&king Italian in this world.” Nonetheless, the guys decided on going to an Italian restaurant called Stephanie’s in Caldwell. Since it was right smack in the middle of the pandemic, there really weren’t that many choices anyway, so I had to go along. Once we sat down, I looked at Eddie with eyes that said, “I don’t like anything on this menu.” He just threw the bread at me and said, “Fill yourself up with this.” Man, I continued on pg. 40
