Hello men and women of this thing of ours. I'm not much with words so I'll be on point as much as possible.

I'm here today to share an experience and ask a question. My experience first.

My father came to these shores in order to give me a better life, a life he never had. I remember overhearing
his conversations with someone who had an in with New Orleans families. I was young then, just a kid. I had no idea my father was talking to
such important people on my behalf. My father was a man of honor, respect, and family. Those traits were used well in the process of obtaining
a place for me in a New Orleans family. Coming up in New Orleans was an amazing experience.

The thing that amazed me most was how willing
the GodFather and his RH were to help each and every member of all New Orleans families, as if they were the parents of us all. If they were
in earshot of a question you asked, they'd answer it willingly and most likely add a bit of their own knowledge and flavor to it. Giving you, literally,
more than you asked for. In a good way. Knowledge is power after all. They are always trying to get me involved in their personal crimes, giving me advice about the streets,
helping me make smart drug purchases, and helping me be a better person overall. As a summary, my experience in New Orleans has been amazing to say the least. I feel I owe
my life to my family and my city, which many mafioso express.

Now to my question.

When your family does so much for you, more than words can easily express, how do you repay them? Dedicating your life to your family is a long term answer. Making money, having a presence,
earning respect, and doing anything the bosses ask. All of these are obvious answers, things we all do. What do you in the short term? In the here and now?
How do you give back to your family in a special way that they can appreciate?


Thank you for your time. I look forward to hearing many responses.

~BigEasy

Fellatio.

Oh, your serious? Ok. Well, you know how you said that they are always there for you, willing to answer each and every questin? First and foremost you should be there in reverse, always there to follow whatever request they may have, without question. Always willing to go that extra mile to assist with any problems that arise. Almost anyone can turn up here and there on a daily basis to commit a few crimes, and thats fine, we can't expect every criminal to dedicate their entire life to this thing of ours, but its those people that truly dedicate their lives to not just their family, but their city, that are worthy of such distinction.

Myself and many like me have always strived to give that level of dedication to the leaders I've served, my Godfather Roman and most importantly the City of Chicago. Thats how I give back, and now given the position i'm in I have people under me that I know display those same traits, who I can rely on day in day out.

I think you already answered your own question but I'll add my five cents.

On a daily basis, apart from what you've mentioned, be eyes and ears of your crew. Staying alert and collecting information is an important part of keeping your family and city safe.

Speaking about your father and about the support you received being a young gangster, you said knowledge is power - and you were absolutely right about it. Now, that you have some experience and know how things work in this thing of ours, the best you can do is share this knowledge with youngsters and guide them as you were guided before. Make sure they know what is expected from them and what they should or must not do. Make sure they are not lost in this world and don't end up jumping off a bridge before they even learn about opportunities our life may offer.

You said your father was a man of honour. I cannot think of anything more important in the life we've chosen than respect and loyalty. You can be a solid earner and a perfect crew member in the short term. But what I consider the true value of a mafioso is the long-term dedication which lets their leader know they can be relied on. That they're here for the good and for the bad. That they won't screw up in the critical moment.

Thank you AlabamaWorley and PerpetuumMobile. Both of you obviously speach with wisedom and experience. What I took out of what each of you said boiled down to loyalty and respect. To give both to not only the the members of the families but the city itself. As if, even once the people are gone the city lives on. This concept is truly amazing, and to see it in two members of this thing of ours is truly inspiring. Thank you for sharing your opinions and know that they are truly appreciated by myself and I'm sure anyone else reading them.

A specific task done on the knees is usually appropriate I find, depending on your skill level and stamina, of course.

I come from a bloodline of master shoeshiners.

Honour. Respect. Loyalty. Trust. These are the four pillars of our society which makes our mafioso lives successful. Ofcourse, these might not count towards other cities, but most definitely within your own city and family. There are many sub-headings which may come under these four pillars but they all account towards the same goal. As AlabamaWorley correctly stated, "First and foremost you should be there in reverse". This shouldn't be a request at all. The fist time you step inside your new HQ with the rank of 'thug', you are expected to accept any order given from the higher-ups. 

The cl's and G.F. won't be expecting many things when you start off. All they want is the knowledge knowing that they have loyal workers out there for them. Working their ass for them so that one day they CAN prove themselves. Once you get to the rank of made-man is when all the four-pillars are put to the test. You are given the trust to be within the inner circle of your family, representing your family and your city. Ofcourse, you don't have to be made-man to do this, but you can always kick up as much as you can to your CL. You can always message your RHM (specifically not CL) if there is anything you can do for the family. This shows that you are willing to take on tasks and ofcourse, show off to your CL.

Me, I used to be a fellow New-Orleans crew member. I worked my ass off, kicking up as much as I could. Doing many odd jobs here and there and evidently i'm now in the G.F's family. Something i've always wanted to be in. Bro, I wish you luck on your future. I have a feeling that your one day going to make a significant change in this thing of ours.