Comments on: This Was The Life*

By: Roxane

Roxane — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 22:31:40 +0000

I am also a student of Mr.Cascio, and i was compelled by this article because the idea that someone, who according to societal norms should be married and have a solid career, is content with just having a routine life where he knows what he can and cannot do is introducing such a different perspective than usually offered. That bizarre quality of Izzy’s life grabs our attention because it seems incomprehensible to us and thus we identify as superhuman. However, i think that in regard to the questions asked at the end that unless Izzy suddenly found some reason to stop what he was doing, that he is not necessarily dead but still working somewhere, retiring to the back office with his bottles only to reappear several hours later ready for his next shift.

By: Linda

Linda — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 16:41:22 +0000

There’s always that one person who seems superhuman and I think we all know one. It’s funny because we’re so drawn to these people, that we’re constantly watching and analyzing their every move—it’s almost stalker-ish, but not in the creepy way. At the same time, it’s emotionally confusing because we envy that person for having the strength to do something of that magnitude, yet at the same time, we either feel sorry for them because we know they’re suffering, or we’re secretly angry at them for being able to do something we, ourselves cannot. Needless to say, these kinds of people will forever remain as an enigma to the people around them.

By: Michael Dong

Michael Dong — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 19:50:54 +0000

I was actually told about this site by my English teacher, Mr. Cascio. I found the story very interesting because of the new perspective it showed. I’m a high school student and haven’t worked anywhere before, and I find it interesting that someone would go through his life doing something that he does not love. I know I sound like an idealist, but I don’t have any experience to tell me otherwise.
Concerning the questions asked at the end of the story, I don’t picture Izzy with a family or even dead. His life in the restaurant holds him in state of limbo where nothing is accomplished, but nothing is lost. Following that style of life, I still see Izzy working.

By: Sean Murphy

Sean Murphy — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 16:07:56 +0000

Jen: Thanks for reading and, of course, your comments are very appreciated. It has been almost 15 years since I left the ‘industry’ but I still have restaurant dreams from time to time. It stays with you!

By: Jen

Jen — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 14:11:44 +0000

You can really tell a story like nobody’s business. It’s been a while since I’ve worked in a restaurant, but it all seems so fresh reading your account of the life.

By: Sean Murphy

Sean Murphy — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 03:56:50 +0000

Jamie: Glad you dug it. Izzy was definitely representative of a certain type of old school manager, though I think he was somewhat in a league of his own (in good and not-so-good ways). I really hope he is doing well, wherever he is.

By: Jamie

Jamie — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 02:26:19 +0000

Nice piece. I think there’s at least one of these characters on every restaurant’s management team.