Inizio de Questa Dolce Vita (Beginning of This Sweet Life)
By Ken Parks, January 10, 2007

Meeting Dino de Vincenzi was not luck or happenchance; it was my destiny, a redirection on the course of an uncertain future.

Dino and I met on the CNN Clinton Impeachment Board (CIB) where we posted our views about Clinton, cigars, Monica, the Loral Industries and China connection, and other things that have brought Clinton to his knees (sort a speak). Dino is much more liberal than I am and he thought that the entire impeachment process was not necessary. We differed on this subject but we found common ground on other matters, and we both had considerable fun with other people on the "Cafe" board. As cyber-friends, we made fun of each other. He learned some American English and I was introduced to the Italian language. I became intrigued with this newly discovered culture and the manner by which Dino and I established a bond.

I had been taking a political science class at Valencia Community College and the most difficult professor of the campus had tasked his students to go on the Internet political forums. CNN.com had a political forum called the “Clinton Impeachment Board” (CIB). The discussions were sometimes biased, sometimes logical, sometimes comical, and sometimes furious.

At Sprint's Advanced Network Services (ANS), I was in charge of the UNIX based network applications, nicknamed "Wally" During third shift slow periods, I often posted on the CNN boards to occupy my time. Dino and I would also spend countless hours chatting on the AOL instant messenger with a host of other foreigners. Job related duties permitted us to disengage and reflect on some of the comical discussions.

During the very early morning hours, a certain Italian would post his limited knowledge of the “Americano jurisprudence” with the underlying agenda of wanting “to better his (my) English.” Little did I know at the time, my early discussions with Dino would be the start of a long friendship. Sometimes we would discuss other things such as personal issues, and we were accused of being “off topic” and “take it to another board.”

Dino has been an excellent host, taking me to several places such as the Santa Maria Delle Grazie, home of one of the world's most celebrated works of art, Leonardo da Vinci's "The Last Supper." Here we posed outside of the famous Church waiting for our tour of 15 minutes in viewing the wonderful fresco painting.

Several of us posters asked the CNN elves to establish a new board called the “Café” whereby we can discuss anything that was considered off topic within other boards. It was here that discussions became very lively and fun. Photographs and memories were exchanged among several of us. We became a close knitted group within our “Café” world.

Approximately 3 months into this, Dino requested, “You come to Italy, I host you… okay?” At first, I thought this to be a kind and generous offer, but not to be taken seriously. My first response was to reciprocate with my offer, “Why don’t you come to Florida. We could see Disney, Universal Studios, and Kennedy Space Center.” Dino was persistent. Most every day, he would bring up the same offer, “Come to Italy, I host you… okay?”

After careful consideration, I took up Dino’s offer. I thought out loud and posted, “I have some time off this coming March. I would have to acquire my birth certificate, obtain a passport and purchase an exchange transformer.” There was much to do and a few months to accomplish all before leaving. Sometimes I wondered, “This must be crazy. I’ve never been out of this country, accept for the business trips to Canada.”

In the Internet chat boards, Dino and I were considered Knights of the round table. I was labeled as Sir Lancelot. Silvia (Dino's oldest daughter) and I are shown at the Malpensa Airport. Silvia had made a welcome sign in order to identify me. I'm wearing my Air Traffic Control Systems Division (ATCSD) jacket that I was awarded for the Harris VSCS project. The first trip to Italy in 1999 was the best vacation of my entire life. I had a blast with Dino e famiglia. We visited Milano, Pavia, and of course the Piazza Ducale in Vigevano. We made a day trip to Innsbrook Austria where we did the can-can on the main street.

When I landed in Malpensa airport and met Dino for the first time, I realized, “The beginning of this sweet life.”