1 step beyond

One day in 1812 the Emperor Napoleon decided to attack Russia. To get to Russia he had to come through Poland and while he was there he picked up some really great cavalry to add to his army. Before they left to go fight, Napoleon met with some young Polish officers and their wives at a little suaree. During the introductions the Emperor's eye caught a captivating young woman who was holding her baby son in her arms. She and her husband were introduced and, before receiving the next officer in line, Napoleon took the baby's small hand in his fingers and wiggled it in a mock handshake.

The invasion of Russia was a miserable failure and Napoleon's army was beaten badly.

The little boy grew up and eventually married when in his 30's. He, in turn, had four sons - the last of which was born in 1861 when he was 49.

In 1901 the youngest son of the man who as a baby "shook hands" with Napoleon came to America with his family and settled in one of the Polish neighborhoods in Chicago, where he lived to be 99 at the time of his death in 1960.

A few months before he died he was walking, with the aid of a heavy black cane, down an alleyway in the city and came upon three boys playing stickball. One of those boys was me.

When "Adamek" (our neighbor from next door who was working on something in his garage) saw the old man he happily greeted him and shook his hand. they talked for a while and my neighbor called us over. Each of us, in our turn, shook his hand as well, as some great introduction was being made.

I had heard the story of this guy before and since from my friends in school at the time and our neighbor told the tale as well. So I believe it to be true. Who knows, really? Hard to say.

But, when I think about it - it occurs to me there are two people standing between me and Napoleon. There's me, a grizzled old man, his father, and Bonaparte.

Not altogether sure what that means, if anything, but a neat little story on a cold winter's day.

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