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Every so
often I cruz across your web site, and your reference to The
Dart Guy in Convention Hall. I must have thrown thousands of
darts there, all little pieces of my youth spent in Asbury Park.
The Dart Guy’s name was Bobby Vetrano. He and his wife Aneva,
and his brother, inherited that spot from his dad who ran the
darts and wheel in the 1940s. His smile and laughter could light
up that entire lobby. As the years rolled by, the boardwalk took
on a sadness for me, I felt my youth absorbed by those rotting
boards, and things began to disappear. I would walk from the
Casino to Convention Hall, as if I were trekking across a lonely
dessert with that massive mirage getting closer and closer. The
times had gotten hard, yet Bobby was almost always there, still
managing that great smile. This was not his only job, he was a
heavy equipment operator for the state, and even did paving on
the side, from his home in Neptune. I don’t remember the exact
date or time, I once again found myself gliding through those
heavy doors to ravage his goods again ( he said I was the best
he had ever seen), and there he was! My wife Kathy couldn’t
keep up with me I was so glad to see him. I got to within 2-3
ft. of him before I realized something was dreadfully wrong, and
he told me. His beautiful 17 yr. old daughter, Little Neva, had
flipped her new sports car near The Collingwood Auction, and had
been killed. I knew her because she sometimes ran the game
during the day. I didn’t throw any darts, I knew my arm would
not even lift, that was the last time I ever saw Bobby. Bobby,
wherever you are, I want you to know that you and those darts
will always be part of my life, Take care.
Asbury Park,
the same goes for you, and the Palace, and Madame M, and even
Berkeley Candies (I actually bought one of the two big window
signs from the owner when he was closing, it needed some minor
repairs, it is now proudly displayed in my dining room). I have
Parkinson’s, I am crippled by spinal stenosis, and I have
suffered a stroke, but I will never forget you.
P.J. Merola
– Middlesex, NJ
Thank you PJ, I was a lopusy dart thrower.
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