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About the Author
Phil Polizatto and Giacco Giordano have been best friends since kindergarten. They grew up in Lodi, New Jersey, near the banks of the Saddle River. They thought all fish floated on top of the water in colorfully iridescent oil slicks.
When they were in eighth grade, they tied for the "Best All-Around Scout in Bergen County." Their prize was a drive with the scoutmaster up the Hudson River Valley to his family’s farm in southern New Hampshire. The sight of real cows grazing in fields of green, and farmers doing farmer things, scarred them forever and destroyed all their frames of reference. Giacco adapted quickly, but Phil was uncomfortable the entire time and couldn’t wait to get home. Nevertheless, their worlds had greatly expanded.
They attended the same university, though they agreed it would broaden their horizons if they didn’t room together. Giacco graduated Magna cum Laude. He moved to New York and within weeks of his arrival, he took Timothy Leary’s advice to tune in, turn on, and drop out. Phil graduated by the skin of his teeth, but followed the path expected of him, climbing the corporate ladder. Their lives went in opposite directions and they never saw nor heard from each other again for a long time.
When they did meet thirty years later, it was once again on the banks of the Saddle River, watching fish float on top of the water in colorfully iridescent oil slicks. There, Giacco told his life-long friend the story of his missing decade. Phil was shocked and fascinated. He was also envious. He felt Giacco’s world had expanded more than his own had. He felt he had missed out on something very important.
Giacco graciously allowed Phil to tell his story, in the hope that in the process of writing it down, Phil would vicariously experience those magical years. He did, and cannot thank Giacco enough for sharing the details of his life. Today, their friendship is as strong as it was when they were in kindergarten and Phil hopes he has done Giacco’s story justice.
Phil Polizatto received his Bachelor's degree
from Georgetown
University's School of Foreign Service, and a Master's degree in
Education from the University of Washington.
He
has been a feature writer for the overseas division of UPI, a copywriter for
CBS, and an award-winning corporate film producer.
He wrote the score, lyrics and book for the musical, Pokin’
Around! and immortalized the songs of Cowboy Bob in the unforgettable
CD,
Cowboy Bob: The Morbid Years.
Mr. Polizatto is a published poet and a regular contributor to a
popular arts and literary journal. He also writes for the
well-respected online site,
World Wide Hippies.
Hunga
Dunga is his first novel.
He resides
in the