Nga Rozi Theohari<\/p>\n
Ishte pasditja e s\u00eb premtes s\u00eb 20 majit 2005, kur, me telefon, mikja ime amerikane, Ann Negri, m\u00eb lajm\u00ebroi se Anton Athanasi, kishte nd\u00ebrruar jet\u00eb. Hapa emisionin e lajmeve lokale n\u00eb tv dhe u p\u00ebrballa me fotografin\u00eb e t\u00eb ndjerit: Antoni i ri, me nj\u00eb kostum blu, shik, me nj\u00eb buz\u00ebqeshje t\u00eb \u00e7ilt\u00ebr, me dy vetullat e zeza kaleshe, karakteristike p\u00ebr fytyr\u00ebn e tij dhe dy sy dep\u00ebrtues. Spikerja p\u00ebrs\u00ebriti disa her\u00eb lajmin: \u201cU shua Anthony, \u2018Albanian restaurateur\u2019, themeluesi i Antony\u2019s \u2018Pier 4\u201d, p\u00ebrfaq\u00ebsuesi i ve\u00e7ant\u00eb dhe i respektuar i nj\u00ebrit prej brezave m\u00eb madh\u00ebshtor\u00eb t\u00eb komunitetit t\u00eb qytetit t\u00eb Lynn-it e t\u00eb Bostonit, i cili dikur tha: \u201cHard \u00ebork\u201d (puna e v\u00ebshtir\u00eb), e nd\u00ebrtoi k\u00ebt\u00eb vend (Amerik\u00ebn)\u201d\u2026! Ai luftoi tre vjet me s\u00ebmundjen e Alzheimer-it, deri sa ajo e mundi\u2026\u201d!<\/p>\n
Nj\u00eb ndjenj\u00eb nderimi, krenarie, p\u00ebrzier me ngash\u00ebrim me p\u00ebrshkon trupin. Q\u00ebndroj disa minuta n\u00eb dritare, ku p\u00ebrball\u00eb, n\u00eb krye t\u00eb nj\u00eb masivi shk\u00ebmbor, n\u00eb breg t\u00eb oqeanit, pron\u00eb e familjes Athanas, ngrihet hijer\u00ebnd\u00eb e luksoz nj\u00eb nga restorantet e tyre t\u00eb d\u00ebgjuara, \u201cAnthony\u2019s Ho\u00ebthorne-by-the sea\u201d, n\u00eb Swampscott. Dallg\u00ebt e bardha t\u00eb oqeanit afrohen me radh\u00eb nj\u00ebra pas tjetr\u00ebs e godasin but\u00ebsisht, muret-k\u00ebshtjell\u00eb t\u00eb nd\u00ebrtes\u00ebs, si t\u00eb sjellin ngush\u00ebllime p\u00ebr humbjen e t\u00eb zotit.<\/p>\n
Sjell nd\u00ebr mend nj\u00eb dit\u00eb vjesht\u00eb t\u00eb 1994-\u00ebs, kur q\u00ebndroja e hutuar dhe e mahnitur n\u00eb hollin e restorantit \u201cPier 4\u201d, n\u00eb Boston, e v\u00ebshtroja p\u00ebr her\u00eb t\u00eb par\u00eb at\u00eb luks e mir\u00ebqenie e, s\u2019m\u00eb besohej se gjith\u00eb ai kompleks aristokratik, ishte pron\u00eb e nj\u00eb bashkatdhetari!<\/p>\n
\u2013 \u201cH\u00eb, moj shqiptark\u00eb, ke ardhur edhe ti t\u00eb k\u00ebrkosh pun\u00eb\u201d?!<\/p>\n
U ktheva menj\u00ebher\u00eb dhe u ndodha ball\u00eb p\u00ebr ball\u00eb me zotin Athanas, i cili po buz\u00ebqeshte plot mir\u00ebsi: \u201c- Kemi vende t\u00eb lira vet\u00ebm n\u00eb kuzhin\u00eb, por aty \u00ebsht\u00eb pun\u00eb e r\u00ebnd\u00eb, p\u00ebr ju grat\u00eb\u2026\u201d! N\u00eb fillimin e viteve \u201990-t\u00eb, emigrant\u00ebt e par\u00eb shqiptar\u00eb, iu turr\u00ebn industris\u00eb kulinare. Restorantet e Antoni Athanasit hap\u00ebn dyert dhe pun\u00ebsuan dhjet\u00ebra djem e vajza shqiptare.<\/p>\n
\u2013 \u201cUn\u00eb jam gazetare, \u2013 i thash\u00eb shpejt e shpejt, \u2013 d\u00ebshiroj t\u00eb marr nj\u00eb intervist\u00eb nga ju\u2026\u201d!<\/p>\n
Ai m\u00eb tha: \u201cMir\u00eb se erdhe\u201d, toku dor\u00ebn me mua e m\u00eb ftoi t\u00eb uleshim n\u00eb nj\u00eb kolltuk pran\u00eb vatr\u00ebs gjigante, ku digjeshin dy g\u00ebrxhele.<\/p>\n
\u2013 \u201cD\u00ebgjo k\u00ebtu\u2026, prej nga t\u00eb kemi\u201d?<\/p>\n
\u2013 \u201cNga Kor\u00e7a\u2026, jemi t\u00eb dy patriot\u00eb\u201d!<\/p>\n
\u2013 \u201cUn\u00eb jam patriot me t\u00eb t\u00ebr\u00eb shqiptar\u00ebt\u2026, por dije se nuk kam koh\u00eb\u2026, i kam edhe minutat t\u00eb num\u00ebruara\u201d.<\/p>\n
Ai b\u00ebri t\u00eb ngrihej, un\u00eb e sulmova me pyetje.<\/p>\n
\u2013 \u201cM\u00eb vjen keq, t\u00eb thash\u00eb s\u2019kam koh\u00eb\u201d! \u2013 Ai me p\u00ebrsh\u00ebndeti me mir\u00ebsjellje dhe ngjiti me nxitim shkall\u00ebt, ku e prisnin dy kameriere.<\/p>\n
Po at\u00eb vjesht\u00eb, p\u00ebr festen tradicionale t\u00eb 28 N\u00ebntorit, u mblodh\u00ebn shqiptaro-amerikan\u00ebt e Bostonit, si \u00e7do vit, t\u00eb kremtonin Dit\u00ebn e Flamurit, n\u00eb \u201cPier 4\u201d. Sallat dhe interier\u00ebt e restorantit, ishin zbukuruar me flamur\u00eb komb\u00ebtar\u00eb e drita shum\u00ebngjyr\u00ebshe, t\u00eb cilat feksnin duksh\u00ebm n\u00eb sfondin blu t\u00eb oqeanit p\u00ebrtej vetratave. Tek ngjitja shkall\u00ebt e shtruara me kadife vishnje, m\u00eb zuri syri zotin Anton Athanas, i cili po mbante me zor nj\u00eb tavolin\u00eb t\u00eb madhe, i ndihmuar edhe nga nj\u00eb kamerier. Ne t\u00eb ftuarit q\u00eb vinim p\u00ebr her\u00eb t\u00eb par\u00eb, mbet\u00ebm goj\u00ebhapur, tek shihnim at\u00eb sken\u00eb. Iu afrova zotit Anton, e i p\u00ebshp\u00ebrita: \u201cNuk u gjendka nj\u00eb kamerier tjet\u00ebr, p\u00ebr k\u00ebt\u00eb pun\u00eb\u201d?!<\/p>\n
Ai, sa m\u00eb pa, u kujtua p\u00ebr intervist\u00ebn e ma preu: \u2013 \u201cJemi jasht\u00ebzakonisht t\u00eb z\u00ebn\u00eb\u2026, kan\u00eb ardhur shum\u00eb t\u00eb ftuar\u2026, duhen tavolina\u2026\u201d! Duheshin tavolina t\u00eb tjera e t\u00eb tjera \u00e7do vit q\u00eb festohej 28 N\u00ebntori n\u00eb \u201cPier 4\u201d, sepse njer\u00ebzit vinin miz\u00ebri n\u00eb at\u00eb manifestim madh\u00ebshtor, n\u00eb mjediset e restorantit modern, me ushqim t\u00eb bollsh\u00ebm e t\u00eb zgjedhur, t\u00eb pritur me dashuri e respekt, nga zoti e zonja Athanas.<\/p>\n
Nj\u00eb vit m\u00eb von\u00eb, n\u00eb nj\u00eb dit\u00eb n\u00ebntori, tek i bija ziles s\u00eb telefonit t\u00eb sekretares s\u00eb \u201cPier 4\u201d, p\u00ebr t\u00eb rezervuar biletat e fest\u00ebs, m\u2019u p\u00ebrgjigj nj\u00eb z\u00eb burri:<\/p>\n
\u2013 \u201cMos fol anglisht, \u2013 m\u00eb tha, \u2013 e kuptoj qe je shqiptark\u00eb\u201d.<\/p>\n
Ishte z\u00ebri i Anton Athanasit. Ai pyeti p\u00ebr emrin tim dhe sa bileta doja.<\/p>\n
\u2013 \u201cM\u00eb falni, zot\u00ebri, po pse u dashka t\u00eb merreni ju edhe me list\u00ebn e t\u00eb ftuarve\u201d\u2026?!<\/p>\n
\u2013 \u201cSepse sekretarja ka shkuar n\u00eb bank\u00eb dhe un\u00eb po q\u00ebndroj te telefoni deri sa ajo t\u00eb kthehet\u201d. Ai qeshi se m\u00eb njohu nga emri e, duke u shfaj\u00ebsuar, m\u00eb tha:<\/p>\n
\u2013 \u201cTashti, po deshe, bisedojm\u00eb, se jam n\u00eb qet\u00ebsi\u2026por bjeri shkurt\u201d.<\/p>\n
Un\u00eb u stepa p\u00ebr nj\u00eb \u00e7ast. Nuk m\u00eb ndodhej pran\u00eb as let\u00ebr, as laps. Para se ta merrja veten, ai filloi t\u00eb fliste ngadal\u00eb e me humor e, u ankua se u shmangej intervistave t\u00eb gazetar\u00ebve, t\u00eb cil\u00ebt shpesh, i \u201cvidhnin\u201d koh\u00ebn. E pyeta n\u00eb e mbante mend dit\u00ebn e par\u00eb t\u00eb ardhjes n\u00eb Amerik\u00eb dhe ai m\u2019u p\u00ebrgjigj: \u2013 \u201cPo.\u201dAnton Athanasi e pa Statuj\u00ebn e Liris\u00eb p\u00ebr her\u00eb t\u00eb par\u00eb, n\u00eb vitin 1915, n\u00eb mosh\u00ebn 5- vje\u00e7are\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cA u menduat shum\u00eb kur niset biznesin e par\u00eb\u201d? \u2013 e pyeta.<\/p>\n
\u201cAmerikan\u00ebt p\u00ebrdorin nj\u00eb shprehje t\u00eb ngjashme: \u2018Kur e b\u00ebn ai, pse t\u00eb mos e b\u00ebj edhe un\u00eb\u2019? Kjo ishte shtytja e par\u00eb\u2026! Kur e ke filluar pun\u00ebn pa frik\u00eb, kur e ke marr\u00eb n\u00eb sy d\u00ebshtimin dhe kur nuk k\u00ebnaqesh nga ajo q\u00eb ke arritur, vazhdo\u2026vazhdo\u2026 se e ke rrug\u00ebn t\u00eb hapur\u201d, \u2013 u p\u00ebrgjigj ai.<\/p>\n
\u201cPse ju zgjodh\u00ebt pik\u00ebrisht biznesin e restoranteve\u201d? \u2013 e pyeta.<\/p>\n
\u201cSepse \u00ebsht\u00eb rruga m\u00eb e leht\u00eb t\u00eb fillosh nj\u00eb biznes, \u2013 u p\u00ebrgjigj ai, \u2013 merr me qira nj\u00eb lokal, fillon t\u00eb blesh ushqimet, t\u00eb gatuash e, t\u2019i tregtosh. M\u00eb von\u00eb, me fitimet e blen lokalin dhe zgjeron biznesin. Italian\u00ebt dhe grek\u00ebt, q\u00eb kishin filluar para nesh, na dhan\u00eb nj\u00eb eksperienc\u00eb t\u00eb mir\u00eb\u201d!<\/p>\n
\u201cJu p\u00ebrmend\u00ebt zgjerimin e biznesit, kaq shpejt arrihet ai\u201d?!<\/p>\n
\u201cAi nuk arrihet kaq leht\u00eb\u2026! D\u00ebgjo tani\u2026mund t\u00eb b\u00ebj nj\u00eb krahasim me \u00e7far\u00eb thot\u00eb Bibla\u2026! Ju mund t\u00eb nd\u00ebrtoni nj\u00eb sht\u00ebpi mbi r\u00ebr\u00eb shum\u00eb shpejt, por t\u00eb nd\u00ebrtosh nj\u00eb sht\u00ebpi mbi shk\u00ebmb, ka v\u00ebshtir\u00ebsi, do mund, lodhje. Po kur vjen tufani, sht\u00ebpin\u00eb e r\u00ebr\u00ebs e shkat\u00ebrron dhe e hedh tutje, nd\u00ebrsa sht\u00ebpia mbi shk\u00ebmb, q\u00ebndron e paprekur\u2026! Un\u00eb nuk punoj shkel e shko e, vet\u00ebm p\u00ebr t\u00eb sotmen\u2026! Un\u00eb \u2018nd\u00ebrtoj mbi shk\u00ebmb\u2019, punoj e lodhem shum\u00eb e mendoj p\u00ebr t\u00eb ardhmen\u2026\u201d!<\/p>\n
\u201cBabai im, \u2013 i thash\u00eb, \u2013 kur \u00ebsht\u00eb larguar nga Shqip\u00ebria, p\u00ebr n\u00eb Amerik\u00eb, ka udh\u00ebtuar pothuaj n\u00eb t\u00eb nj\u00ebjt\u00ebn koh\u00eb me ju dhe n\u00eb t\u00eb nj\u00ebjt\u00ebn rrug\u00eb, nga Kor\u00e7a n\u00eb Pire, Greqi, me kuaj e, m\u00eb tutje me vapor. Edhe ai punoi r\u00ebnd\u00eb e, bleu nj\u00eb restorant n\u00eb Detroit\u2026! Gjith\u00eb jet\u00ebn m\u00eb ka ngacmuar kureshtja, sesi do t\u00eb jetonim, sikur t\u00eb na kishte marr\u00eb edhe ne babai, n\u00eb Amerik\u00eb\u2026\u201d!<\/p>\n
\u201cNdoshta sot nuk do t\u00eb mbaje n\u00eb dor\u00eb pen\u00ebn, por thik\u00ebn n\u00eb kuzhin\u00ebn e restorantit,\u201d \u2013 tha ai me humor. U ngjetha kur mendova se edhe familja jon\u00eb, do t\u00eb kishte kaluar rrug\u00ebn e mundimshme e me plot t\u00eb papritura t\u00eb familjes Athanas, prej dit\u00ebs s\u00eb mb\u00ebrritjes n\u00eb \u201ctok\u00ebn e premtuar\u201d! Prind\u00ebrit e Antonit u vendos\u00ebn n\u00eb qytetin Nju-Bedford dhe gjet\u00ebn pun\u00eb n\u00eb nj\u00eb fabrik\u00eb pambuku, me nj\u00eb pag\u00eb t\u00eb ul\u00ebt, nd\u00ebrsa Antoni i vog\u00ebl, ndihmonte xhaxhan\u00eb t\u00eb shiste fruta e perime, me nj\u00eb karroc\u00eb q\u00eb e shtynte me dor\u00eb n\u00eb Fanueil Hall, aty ku sot ngrihet \u2018Quincy Market\u2019.<\/p>\n
\u201cN\u00ebna ime, \u2013 psher\u00ebtiu Antoni, \u2013 qysh n\u00eb vog\u00ebli m\u00eb kishte m\u00ebsuar t\u00eb isha pun\u00ebtor, nikoqir e t\u2019ua kaloja moshatar\u00ebve. Babai, Simoni, ishte k\u00ebmb\u00ebngul\u00ebs t\u00eb mos e kaloja koh\u00ebn kot. M\u00eb jepte nj\u00eb shport\u00eb me banane e m\u00eb thoshte: Po nuk i shite t\u00eb gjitha bananet, mos m\u00eb hajde n\u00eb sht\u00ebpi\u2019. Un\u00eb vrisja mendjen, si t\u00eb veproja. Zija vend n\u00eb t\u00eb dy an\u00ebt e ur\u00ebs, ku kishte kalimtar\u00eb m\u00eb shum\u00eb dhe arrija t\u2019i shisja t\u00eb gjitha. K\u00ebshtu m\u00eb mbetej pak kohe e lir\u00eb t\u00eb kthehesha n\u00eb sht\u00ebpi e, t\u00eb kryeja detyrat e shkoll\u00ebs\u201d.<\/p>\n
Anton Athanasi e ka pas dashur shum\u00eb t\u00eb \u00ebm\u00ebn dhe ka vazhduar ta kujtoj\u00eb e ta respektoj\u00eb pas vdekjes se saj. N\u00eb nj\u00eb nga zyrat e tij, \u00ebsht\u00eb i varur n\u00eb mur portreti i Evangjelia Athanas-it. Ai d\u00ebshironte t\u00eb nd\u00ebrtonte n\u00eb Shqip\u00ebri nj\u00eb spital t\u00eb madh, me emrin e n\u00ebn\u00ebs s\u00eb tij\u2026! Antoni e p\u00ebrmend n\u00ebn\u00ebn e tij edhe p\u00ebr di\u00e7ka tjet\u00ebr. Ai ka deklaruar para gazetar\u00ebve e vendeve publike, se ishte pik\u00ebrisht n\u00ebna e tij, e cila e solli far\u00ebn e kosit me vapor, nga fshati Trebick\u00eb dhe ai e cil\u00ebson: \u201cOur Culture\u201d. \u201cNe shqiptar\u00ebt e soll\u00ebm n\u00eb Amerik\u00eb far\u00ebn e kosit\u201d\u2026! Ishte tharmi i vendlindjes, ishin traditat e familjes shqiptare q\u00eb, duke udh\u00ebtuar mbi Atlantik, fillonin t\u00eb hidhnin rr\u00ebnj\u00eb pak nga pak, n\u00eb kontinentin e ri.<\/p>\n
N\u00eb mosh\u00ebn 13 vje\u00e7, Antoni e la shkoll\u00ebn e gjeti pun\u00eb n\u00eb nj\u00eb fabrik\u00eb t\u00eb Bedfordit. Detyra e tij ishte ndezja e sobave me dru e qymyr, p\u00ebr zyrat e shefave, pun\u00eb t\u00eb cil\u00ebn, si\u00e7 thot\u00eb ai, e kishte kryer edhe n\u00eb sht\u00ebpi, tok me motrat e v\u00ebllez\u00ebrit. Ai punonte 7 dit\u00eb n\u00eb jav\u00eb e, shpinte n\u00eb sht\u00ebpi 12 dollar\u00eb. M\u00eb von\u00eb ai punoi si \u201cbusboy\u201d dhe kamerier, n\u00eb nj\u00eb nga restorantet e d\u00ebgjuar t\u00eb qytetit. Ai ishte i pari shqiptaro-amerikan q\u00eb punonte n\u00eb at\u00eb restorant dhe kur u kthye n\u00eb sht\u00ebpi nga dita e par\u00eb e pun\u00ebs, u duartrokit nga njer\u00ebzit e familjes dhe miqt\u00eb.<\/p>\n
Pes\u00ebdhjet\u00eb vjet me von\u00eb, n\u00eb nj\u00eb fjalim mbajtur n\u00eb \u201cFanuiel Hall\u201d, para m\u00eb tep\u00ebr se 400 pjes\u00ebmarr\u00ebsve, ai tha: \u201cN\u00eb qoft\u00eb se ju mendoni se jam i suksessh\u00ebm tani, ju duhet t\u00eb m\u00eb shikonit mua at\u00ebher\u00eb\u201d. N\u00eb mosh\u00ebn 14 vje\u00e7, ai punonte si pjatalar\u00ebs, por nj\u00eb grev\u00eb e gjat\u00eb pun\u00ebtor\u00ebsh e dob\u00ebsoi ekonomin\u00eb e Bedfordit, k\u00ebshtu Antoni l\u00ebvizi n\u00eb Nju- Jork, ku punoi tek restoranti i xhaxhait tjet\u00ebr. Aty Antoni kreu t\u00eb gjitha llojet e pun\u00ebve, q\u00eb ka nj\u00eb restorant, p\u00ebrve\u00e7 pun\u00ebs n\u00eb zyr\u00eb, p\u00ebr t\u00eb cil\u00ebn ai nuk e vrau mendjen shum\u00eb, gjat\u00eb veprimtaris\u00eb s\u00eb jet\u00ebs.<\/p>\n
Dhe erdhi nj\u00eb dite kur ai, me kursimet e fituara, hapi vet\u00eb n\u00eb Nju-Jork nj\u00eb restorant t\u00eb vog\u00ebl 45-vend\u00ebsh, me pun\u00ebsim p\u00ebr dy vet\u00eb, counter-service. Por ky hap i r\u00ebnd\u00ebsish\u00ebm n\u00eb jet\u00ebn e tij, u nd\u00ebrpre shpejt, sepse p\u00ebr fat t\u00eb keq, i vdiq i ati dhe u detyrua t\u00eb kthehej sa m\u00eb par\u00eb n\u00eb Bedford. Djali 20-vje\u00e7ar, punoi n\u00eb Nju Bedford, n\u00eb fillim si kamerier e, m\u00eb von\u00eb kryekamerier, duke e ndihmuar familjen, me 3.000 dollar\u00ebt e tij, t\u00eb kursyera.<\/p>\n
\u2026\u201dKisha nj\u00eb shok t\u00eb af\u00ebrm, \u2013 p\u00ebrfundon Antoni, \u2013 ishim t\u00eb dy kor\u00e7ar\u00eb e moshatar\u00eb, quhej Vasil. Me t\u00eb shpesh i qaja hallet e i flisja p\u00ebr projektet q\u00eb kisha n\u00eb kok\u00eb. Nj\u00eb dite shkuam n\u00eb plazh, t\u00eb dy ishim djem t\u00eb rinj, na p\u00eblqente noti n\u00eb oqean\u2026! Duke q\u00ebndruar shtrir\u00eb n\u00eb r\u00ebr\u00eb, me syt\u00eb nga qielli, i thash\u00eb Vasilit se; d\u00ebshiroja t\u00eb hapja n\u00eb Lynn nj\u00eb lokal t\u00eb vog\u00ebl. \u2018Hot Dog\u2019. Ai e p\u00eblqeu mendimin tim e, m\u00eb inkurajoi\u2026\u201d!<\/p>\n
Lynni \u00ebsht\u00eb i p\u00ebrmendur si qend\u00ebr industriale pran\u00eb Bostonit dhe si nj\u00eb qytet me popullsi t\u00eb madhe emigrant\u00ebsh. Banor\u00ebt e par\u00eb kan\u00eb qen\u00eb anglez\u00eb, m\u00eb von\u00eb erdh\u00ebn irlandez\u00eb, italian\u00eb, francez\u00eb-kanadez\u00eb, grek\u00eb, armen\u00eb e t\u00eb tjer\u00eb, t\u00eb cil\u00ebt punonin n\u00eb fabrikat e k\u00ebpuc\u00ebve. Antoni i kishte r\u00ebn\u00eb lapsit, se hapja e nj\u00eb \u201cHot Dogu\u201d, pran\u00eb k\u00ebtyre fabrikave, do t\u00eb kishte xhiro t\u00eb madhe e do t\u2019i sillte fitime t\u00eb m\u00ebdha. Ai nuk e la d\u00ebshir\u00ebn ta mundonte p\u00ebr nj\u00eb koh\u00eb t\u00eb gjat\u00eb, por e hapi nj\u00eb lokal t\u00eb till\u00eb n\u00eb Lynn.<\/p>\n
Biznesi po i shkonte mir\u00eb, por nuk vazhdoi ve\u00e7se disa muaj. Ishte koha e depresionit ekonomik, q\u00eb p\u00ebrfshiu gjith\u00eb Amerik\u00ebn, lokalet e dyqanet falimentonin shpejt dhe pronar\u00ebt i shisnin me \u00e7mime fare t\u00eb ul\u00ebta. Antoni, me intuit\u00ebn e tij t\u00eb tregtarit q\u00eb s\u2019e g\u00ebnjeu kurr\u00eb, e shiti shpejt \u201cHot Dog\u201d-un dhe bleu n\u00eb ankand, restorantin m\u00eb t\u00eb bukur t\u00eb Lynn-it.<\/p>\n
K\u00ebmb\u00ebngul\u00ebs p\u00ebr t\u00eb ngritur nj\u00eb restorant me pamje t\u00ebrheq\u00ebse dhe \u201cfirst-class\u201d, me 1938, ai hapi restorantin \u201cAnthony\u2019s Ha\u00ebthorne\u201d n\u00eb do\u00ebnto\u00ebn Lynn. \u201cHawthorne\u201d, ishte mbyllur n\u00eb koh\u00ebn e depresionit ekonomik, por i krijoi mund\u00ebsin\u00eb Antonit i cili, gjeti at\u00eb q\u00eb k\u00ebrkonte, p\u00ebr dy-tri mij\u00eb dollar\u00eb. Por n\u00eb mbarim t\u00eb vitit t\u00eb par\u00eb, Athanasi fitoi 23.000 dollar\u00eb. N\u00eb fillimin e viteve \u201950-t\u00eb, \u201cAnthony\u2019s Ha\u00ebthorne\u201d, u b\u00eb restoranti me kapacitet m\u00eb t\u00eb madh me vend ulje, n\u00eb gjith\u00eb Massachusettsin, me nj\u00eb fitim, me shume se nj\u00eb milion dollar n\u00eb vit.<\/p>\n
Duke iu referuar kronikave, Athanasi, megjith\u00ebse punonte 7 dit\u00eb n\u00eb jav\u00eb, e gjente koh\u00ebn t\u00eb merrej edhe me aktivitet patriotik, duke marr\u00eb pjes\u00eb n\u00eb konferencat e mitingjet q\u00eb organizonte kryesisht \u201cVatra\u201d dhe organizata t\u00eb tjera t\u00eb diaspor\u00ebs. Ai ndjehej krenar, kur takohej me bashkatdhetar\u00ebt dhe m\u00ebsonte p\u00ebr sukseset q\u00eb kishin arritur n\u00eb biznes, n\u00eb p\u00ebrvet\u00ebsimin e nj\u00eb profesioni apo, n\u00eb gradimet universitare.<\/p>\n
N\u00eb fjalimin q\u00eb mbajti n\u00eb Festivalin shqiptar t\u00eb Bostonit, n\u00eb maj 1975, Antoni Athanas, midis t\u00eb tjerash, tha: \u201c\u2026E quaj veten krenar q\u00eb jam shqiptar\u2026ka shum\u00eb gj\u00ebra p\u00ebr t\u00eb cilat i jam mir\u00ebnjoh\u00ebs dhe e falenderoj vendlindjen time\u2026!E quaj veten t\u00eb privilegjuar q\u00eb jam rritur \u2018n\u00eb p\u00ebqirin e n\u00ebn\u00ebs\u2019, n\u00eb familjen time, q\u00eb m\u00eb edukoi sipas zakoneve e traditave shqiptare\u2026! E quaj veten me fat, q\u00eb kam njohur bishop Nolin, Faik Konic\u00ebn e patriot\u00eb t\u00eb tjer\u00eb, t\u00eb cil\u00ebt filluan Rilindjen e dyt\u00eb t\u00eb Shqip\u00ebris\u00eb\u2026! Ideali i tyre ishte v\u00ebllaz\u00ebrimi i shqiptar\u00ebve, pa dallim feje e ideje\u2026 gj\u00eb p\u00ebr t\u00eb cil\u00ebn ndihmoi edhe Katedralja e Sh\u00ebn Gjergjit, e drejtuar nga At Noli\u2026\u201d!<\/p>\n
Me tej, Antoni Athanas, p\u00ebrg\u00ebzoi pun\u00ebn e madhe dhe aktivitetin q\u00eb kryente \u201cVatra\u201d dhe \u201cDielli\u201d, p\u00ebr t\u00eb krijuar komunitetin shqiptaro-amerikan dhe institucionet e tij, p\u00ebr t\u00eb edukuar grupin etnik t\u00eb shqiptar\u00ebve, me q\u00ebllim q\u00eb gjithsecili, t\u00eb b\u00ebhej nj\u00eb qytetar i mir\u00eb amerikan. Dashuria dhe krenaria p\u00ebr atdheun e tij, e afroi Antonin me \u201cVatr\u00ebn\u201d, n\u00eb krye t\u00eb s\u00eb cil\u00ebs q\u00ebndroi p\u00ebr disa vite.<\/p>\n
N\u00eb zon\u00ebn e Boston-it, n\u00ebse i thua nj\u00eb amerikani; \u201cjam shqiptar\u201d, ai ta kthen: \u201cSi Anthony\u201d? Kaq familjare e popullore jan\u00eb b\u00ebr\u00eb pes\u00eb restorantet e tij \u201cAthanas\u201d, sa ky em\u00ebr sot \u00ebsht\u00eb b\u00ebr\u00eb mit. N\u00eb pron\u00ebsi t\u00eb familjes Athanas, sot jan\u00eb: \u201cAnthony\u2019s Ha\u00ebthorne\u201d n\u00eb Lynn, i cili \u00ebsht\u00eb hapur me 1938; \u201cHawthorne-by-the Sea\u201d, ne Swampscott, i cili u hap me 1947 dhe sot \u00ebsht\u00eb zgjeruar me \u201cAnthony\u2019s Pier 4 Caf\u00e9\u201d; \u201cThe General Glover n\u00eb Marblehead\u201d, i cili \u00ebsht\u00eb hapur me 1957; \u201cAnthony\u2019s Pier 4\u201d, ne Boston Harbor, i cili \u00ebsht\u00eb hapur me 1963; \u201cCummaquid Inn ne Cape Cod\u201d, i cili \u00ebsht\u00eb hapur me 1975.<\/p>\n
N\u00eb t\u00eb gjith\u00eb restorantet, sot jan\u00eb t\u00eb pun\u00ebsuar rreth 800 punonj\u00ebs. Qysh prej fillimit t\u00eb viteve \u201990-t\u00eb, nj\u00eb num\u00ebr i madh kamerieresh, jan\u00eb emigrant\u00eb shqiptar\u00eb, t\u00eb cil\u00ebt Antoni i zgjodhi sipas aft\u00ebsive, paraqitjes profesionale dhe shkatht\u00ebsis\u00eb. Klient\u00ebt shqiptaro-amerikan\u00eb, t\u00eb cil\u00ebt frekuentojn\u00eb restorantet e familjes \u201cAthanas\u201d, gjithmon\u00eb e kan\u00eb ndier veten si n\u00eb sht\u00ebpin\u00eb e tyre, duke komunikuar shqip me kamerier\u00ebt dhe punonj\u00ebsit e tjer\u00eb t\u00eb sh\u00ebrbimit, aq me tep\u00ebr nga kostumet e tyre (jelek e xhaket\u00eb t\u00eb kuqe e, pantallona t\u00eb zeza), q\u00eb i p\u00ebrngjajn\u00eb flamurit ton\u00eb.<\/p>\n
Gjat\u00eb aktivitetit t\u00eb restoranteve n\u00eb dekada, Antoni i jepte shum\u00eb r\u00ebnd\u00ebsi paraqitjes s\u00eb mir\u00eb fizike dhe sjelljes s\u00eb kamerierit. Tregojn\u00eb se pran\u00eb der\u00ebs s\u00eb kuzhin\u00ebs s\u00eb restorantit, ai kishte varur nj\u00eb pasqyr\u00eb t\u00eb madhe e, posht\u00eb saj sh\u00ebnimin me g\u00ebrma t\u00eb m\u00ebdha: \u201cN\u00eb qoft\u00eb se nuk dukesh mir\u00eb, mos dil jasht\u00eb nga kjo der\u00eb\u201d! Kamerieri, i ngarkuar me pjatat n\u00eb tabaka, duhet t\u00eb shihej n\u00eb pasqyr\u00eb, para se t\u2019i sh\u00ebrbente klientit. Ndoshta ky duket nj\u00eb detaj i vog\u00ebl, por edhe ai ka kontribuar n\u00eb rritjen e fitimeve t\u00eb restoranteve \u201cAthanas\u201d. Me k\u00ebt\u00eb p\u00ebrpik\u00ebri e disiplin\u00eb, kan\u00eb punuar edhe djemt\u00eb e tij.<\/p>\n
Restorantet e familjes, sot administrohen nga kat\u00ebr djemt\u00eb e Antonit, Anthony Jr., Michael, Robert dhe Paul, t\u00eb cil\u00ebt u rrit\u00ebn bashk\u00eb me biznesin. Ata jan\u00eb impenjuar n\u00eb t\u00eb dy sektor\u00ebt e lokaleve, n\u00eb at\u00eb t\u00eb pasmin, kuzhin\u00ebn dhe n\u00eb at\u00eb t\u00eb p\u00ebrparimin, zyrat. Ata filluan si \u201cbusboy\u201d, kamerier\u00eb dhe arrit\u00ebn deri te pozicioni i menaxherit. V\u00ebllez\u00ebrit biznesmen\u00eb, punojn\u00eb si nj\u00eb skuad\u00ebr e vetme, q\u00eb t\u00eb \u00e7ojn\u00eb m\u00eb tej nderin dhe lavdin\u00eb e familjes Athanas.<\/p>\n
Nd\u00ebrtimi i \u201cPier 4\u201d n\u00eb Boston Harbor, nj\u00eb \u201cvapor-restorant\u201d, ishte nj\u00eb \u00ebnd\u00ebrr e Anton Athanas-it, e cila filloi qysh n\u00eb vitin 1959, kur ai bleu sheshin e nj\u00eb hekurudh\u00eb t\u00eb vjet\u00ebr, n\u00eb nj\u00eb vend t\u00eb shkret\u00eb t\u00eb Boston-it. Por sot aty ngrihet madh\u00ebshtore nd\u00ebrtesa e nj\u00eb restoranti me fame, jo vet\u00ebm n\u00eb Amerik\u00eb, por edhe n\u00eb t\u00eb gjith\u00eb bot\u00ebn. Nd\u00ebrtimi dhe kompletimi i lokaleve dhe interier\u00ebve, p\u00ebrfunduan n\u00eb vitin 1963. Antoni e p\u00ebruroi restorantin, disa dit\u00eb para se t\u00eb ndodhte vrasja tragjike e presidentit amerikan, Kenedi dhe kjo u ruajt n\u00eb memorien e amerikan\u00ebve.<\/p>\n
N\u00eb vitin e fillimit t\u00eb funksionimit t\u00eb restorantit \u201cPier 4\u201d, Antoni, me zgjuarsin\u00eb e vet, ftoi p\u00ebr darke falas t\u00eb gjith\u00eb shofer\u00ebt e taksive t\u00eb Bostonit, duke i thirrur edhe p\u00ebr kafe sa her\u00eb u binte rruga andej. Ky gjest u pagua mir\u00eb: shofer\u00ebt filluan t\u00eb sillnin me taksi klient\u00eb, t\u00eb cil\u00ebve u propozonin t\u00eb kalonin nj\u00eb dit\u00eb t\u00eb mahnitshme, n\u00eb nj\u00eb restorant akoma t\u00eb pad\u00ebgjuar mir\u00eb, aty ku klient\u00ebt me t\u00eb v\u00ebrtet\u00eb mbeteshin t\u00eb k\u00ebnaqur e, filluan t\u00eb propagandonin k\u00ebt\u00eb vend. Vit pas viti \u201cPier 4\u201d, u b\u00eb nj\u00eb magnet q\u00eb t\u00ebrhiqte yjet e kinematografis\u00eb, median e shkruar e televizionin, udh\u00ebheq\u00ebs politik\u00eb dhe kremtime festash, nga e gjith\u00eb bota. Ne vaporin-restorant jan\u00eb vendosur, i pari flamuri shqiptar dhe m\u00eb tej flamur\u00eb nga e gjith\u00eb bota.<\/p>\n
Muret e hollit t\u00eb restorantit, jan\u00eb t\u00eb mbushura me fotot e vizitor\u00ebve t\u00eb famsh\u00ebm te \u201cPier 4\u201d, p\u00ebrfshir\u00eb edhe Elisabet Taylor, Mery Griffin, John Carson, Don Rickles, Joe DiMaggio, Judy Garland dhe Wayne Nweton. Elita e politikan\u00ebve t\u00eb Boston-it e kan\u00eb \u201cPier 4\u201d, si vendin e takimeve, sidomos gjat\u00eb fushatave t\u00eb zgjedhjeve, e vizitojn\u00eb senator\u00eb e kongresist\u00eb. Aty jan\u00eb organizuar gjithashtu qindra kremtime festash komb\u00ebtare shqiptare dhe takime t\u00eb tjera t\u00eb r\u00ebnd\u00ebsishme t\u00eb diaspor\u00ebs shqiptaro \u2013 amerikane, t\u00eb mbar\u00eb Amerik\u00ebs, ve\u00e7an\u00ebrisht n\u00eb festat e N\u00ebntorit.<\/p>\n
Q\u00eb prej vitit 1963 dhe deri me 1981, t\u00eb ardhurat vjetore t\u00eb \u201cPier 4\u201d, arrinin deri n\u00eb 12 milion\u00eb dollar\u00eb. M\u00eb 1984-\u00ebn, n\u00eb k\u00ebt\u00eb restorant servireshin af\u00ebrsisht 700.000 porcione ushqimi p\u00ebr \u00e7do vit dhe u cil\u00ebsua restoranti i 50-t\u00eb, m\u00eb i suksesshmi n\u00eb Amerik\u00eb. P\u00ebr 40 vjet, Anton Athanasi ka qen\u00eb nj\u00eb figur\u00eb e spikatur, n\u00eb organizatat kulinare lokale dhe nacionale. Ai ka fituar nj\u00eb num\u00ebr gradimesh, \u00e7mime dhe flet\u00eb-nderi ,p\u00ebrfshire dhe \u201cSilver Plate A\u00ebard\u201d, nga \u201cThe International Foodservice Manufacturers Association\u201d. Antoni Athanas, themeluesi dhe presidenti i restoranteve elegante t\u00eb familjes, \u00ebsht\u00eb nj\u00eb nd\u00ebr personalitetet m\u00eb t\u00eb shquara t\u00eb biznesit n\u00eb Boston. Athanasi \u00ebsht\u00eb ngritur shkall\u00eb pas shkalle, p\u00ebr t\u2019u b\u00ebr\u00eb modeli i Amerik\u00ebs, n\u00eb industrin\u00eb e restoranteve, duke personifikuar realizimin e \u00ebndrr\u00ebs amerikane.<\/p>\n
M\u00eb 1967-\u00ebn, \u201cPier 4\u201d n\u00eb Boston, u cil\u00ebsua nj\u00eb nd\u00ebr restorantet m\u00eb t\u00eb m\u00ebdha t\u00eb Amerik\u00ebs dhe Anton Athanas, u nderua, duke fituar \u201cThe Golden Door A\u00ebard of the International Institute of Boston\u201d dhe \u201cBusiness Executives Dining Award\u201d, p\u00ebr tre vjet rresht. Anton Athanas, sh\u00ebrbeu edhe si president i \u201cThe Massachusetts Restaurant Association\u201d dhe si an\u00ebtar i bordit t\u00eb \u201cThe National Restaurant Association\u201d, i cili m\u00eb 1976-\u00ebn, u cil\u00ebsua me emrin e \u201cbiznesmenit m\u00eb t\u00eb mir\u00eb t\u00eb vitit\u201d. Por me humorin e tij, Antoni p\u00ebrs\u00ebriste gjithnj\u00eb shprehjen proverbiale:<\/p>\n
\u201cUn\u00eb jam aq i mir\u00eb, sa \u00e7\u2019\u00ebsht\u00eb gatimi im i fundit\u2026\u201d! Lista e \u00e7mimeve dhe dekorimeve t\u00eb fituara prej tij, \u00ebsht\u00eb pa fund. Ai u nderua me \u201cHonory Doctor of Bussiness Administration degree\u201d, nga Southeastern Massachusetts University, m\u00eb 1977; \u201cDiploma of Honor\u201d, nga National Institute for the Foodservice Industry, m\u00eb 1983; \u201cHonorary Doctorate degree\u201d, nga International Institute of Culinary Arts, ne Massachusetts; \u201cThe Lifetime Achievement A\u00ebard\u201d, nga Mass. Hospitality Association m\u00eb 1999; si dhe nga dhjet\u00ebra organizata e institucione t\u00eb tjera, ku zoti Anton, mban nj\u00eb vend nderi.<\/p>\n
Deri n\u00eb dit\u00ebt e fundit t\u00eb q\u00ebndrimit t\u00eb tij n\u00eb \u201cPier 4\u201d, ai punonte dit\u00eb p\u00ebr dit\u00eb, 7 dit\u00eb n\u00eb jav\u00eb, n\u00eb dit\u00eb t\u00eb zakonshme arrinte n\u00eb restorant rreth or\u00ebs 10, kurse n\u00eb dit\u00ebt e festive, n\u00eb or\u00ebn 7 t\u00eb m\u00ebngjesit dhe q\u00ebndronte aty, t\u00ebr\u00eb dit\u00ebn. N\u00eb fundjav\u00eb, punonte deri n\u00eb or\u00ebn 12 t\u00eb nat\u00ebs. Ai inspektonte lokalin e madh t\u00eb kuzhin\u00ebs, \u00e7do m\u00ebngjes, para se t\u00eb vinin punonj\u00ebsit e tjer\u00eb. N\u00eb intervist\u00ebn dh\u00ebn\u00eb nj\u00eb gazetari, Athanasi tha: \u201c\u00c7lodhem me at\u00eb q\u00eb b\u00ebj. Shkurt, \u00e7lodhem duke punuar. Po e l\u00eb pun\u00ebn t\u00eb le jeta\u2014kjo \u00ebsht\u00eb filozofia ime\u201d.<\/p>\n
N\u00eb kulmin e lul\u00ebzimit, n\u00eb vitet 1960-\u201970-t\u00eb, \u201cPier 4\u201d, u b\u00eb vendi ku mblidheshin kastat e fuqishme t\u00eb politik\u00ebs, politikan\u00eb, bankier\u00eb, gjykat\u00ebs, sportist\u00eb, yje t\u00eb kinematografis\u00eb dhe festime t\u00eb ndryshme. Antoni Athanas, nj\u00eb \u201cmulti-milioner\u201d, q\u00eb i fitoi parat\u00eb me mundin e djers\u00ebn e tij, jo t\u00eb dhuruara ose t\u00eb trash\u00ebguara, p\u00ebrmendte gjithnj\u00eb me humor udh\u00ebtimin mbi nj\u00eb gomar t\u00eb vog\u00ebl, n\u00eb mosh\u00ebn 5-vje\u00e7are, si fillimi i rrug\u00ebs p\u00ebr t\u00eb ardhur n\u00eb Amerik\u00eb. Nd\u00ebrsa shum\u00eb vjet m\u00eb von\u00eb, kur ngiste makin\u00ebn e tij \u201cMercedes\u201d, thoshte: \u201cNj\u00eb makin\u00eb nuk \u00ebsht\u00eb ndonj\u00eb gj\u00eb speciale p\u00ebr mua, \u00ebsht\u00eb di\u00e7ka, nj\u00eb mjet, q\u00eb t\u00eb \u00e7on k\u00ebtu-atje e kaq. Por, dreqi ta haj\u00eb, t\u00eb mbaron pun\u00eb m\u00eb shpejt se nj\u00eb gomar\u2026\u201d!<\/p>\n
Un\u00eb mendoj se ai ishte pionieri dhe nj\u00eb shembull p\u00ebr ne t\u00eb gjith\u00eb, ai bleu vendin e \u201cPier 4\u201d, q\u00eb asnjeri nuk do t\u00eb d\u00ebshironte ta blinte dhe ishte i vetmi q\u00eb mendoi, sesi do ta ndryshonte at\u00eb mjedis, vet\u00ebm me fantazin\u00eb e tij\u2026! Aty vendosej fati i tij ose, m\u00eb mir\u00eb, at\u00eb e udh\u00ebhoqi fati\u2026! Njer\u00ebzit vinin e drekonin tek ai, si t\u00eb t\u00ebrhequr nga nj\u00eb \u00ebnd\u00ebrr, vit pas viti. Rastiste q\u00eb bujt\u00ebsit prisnin edhe dy or\u00eb e gjysm\u00eb, p\u00ebr t\u00eb z\u00ebn\u00eb nj\u00eb tavolin\u00eb. Ai t\u00ebrhoqi, jo vet\u00ebm v\u00ebmendjen e Amerik\u00ebs! Memorie.al<\/p>\n
The post Historia e panjohur e shqiptarit m\u00eb t\u00eb famsh\u00ebm n\u00eb SHBA<\/a> appeared first on www.lexo.al<\/a>.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Nga Rozi Theohari Ishte pasditja e s\u00eb premtes s\u00eb 20 majit 2005, kur, me telefon, mikja ime amerikane, Ann Negri, m\u00eb lajm\u00ebroi se Anton Athanasi, kishte nd\u00ebrruar jet\u00eb. Hapa emisionin e lajmeve lokale n\u00eb tv dhe u p\u00ebrballa me fotografin\u00eb e t\u00eb ndjerit: Antoni i ri, me nj\u00eb kostum blu, shik, me nj\u00eb buz\u00ebqeshje t\u00eb […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5253","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/zennihost.com\/test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5253","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/zennihost.com\/test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/zennihost.com\/test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zennihost.com\/test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5253"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/zennihost.com\/test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5253\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/zennihost.com\/test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5253"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zennihost.com\/test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5253"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zennihost.com\/test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5253"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}