Dallas, TX.
Wednesday. 4:05 am. Pre-Dawn.
It’s sticky, the air is heavy, rain showers are imminent.
I’m walking from an outbuilding to the lobby to pick up an Uber to the Dallas-Fort Worth airport. I’m on the first flight back to New York.
Two bodies are framed in their silhouettes. They stand under a street lamp filling a work cart with garden tools. They stop talking, watch me approach and offer a “Good morning Sir” with full smiles and broken English.
Of Mexican origin.
I approach the front desk. Martina is the tag on her lapel. “How was your stay Sir?” She doesn’t break eye contact. Customer Service coach whispering in her ear during orientation, be confident, you belong.
Of Haitian or DR origin.
Uber App flashes arrival in 7 minutes. I push through the door of the Men’s Room – the door hits the cleaning cart, the cleaning lady is spooked, not expecting patrons at 4:10 am. Her face is flushed…”So sorry Sir.” She’s stooped. She limps badly on her right leg, and hobbles out the door.
Of Central American origin.
The bellman, recognizes me from my stays at the hotel. “Good morning Sir. Going home so soon? Can I help you with your bags.” His hands are clasped in front of his lower abdomen, he offers an ever so soft bow and smiles.
Of Japanese origin.
I’m waiting for the Uber, and it hits me. I’m standing here, 500 miles north of the Upbring New Hope Children’s Detention Center in McAllen, TX, and a few hours from the border.
Hello.
My name is David Kanigan.
I crossed the northern border into this country more than 30 years ago – arriving full of hopes and dreams, warmly embraced by this great nation and its wonderful people, unlike anywhere on this planet. Gratitude overflows.
Of Canadian Origin.
Photo: Reading the Pictures
Bam! Love this pal.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Lori.
LikeLike
Right on! We all come from somewhere. I´m a German Canadian living in Spain with a British husband. (who comes from Viking stock)
LikeLiked by 2 people
We all do come from somewhere Darlene! Thanks!
LikeLiked by 1 person
❤️
LikeLiked by 1 person
Gut punch.
LikeLiked by 2 people
most all of us, or our families, are immigrants to this country. how soon some of our perspectives change. ❤
LikeLiked by 4 people
Yes…we are Beth….and you nailed the point.
LikeLike
So powerful, David. Sharing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Martha.
LikeLike
Thank You for putting that picture out there
It was taken in 2013
…and it is about time to fix the illegal border crisis
LikeLiked by 1 person
No kidding?!?! 2013? Wow.
LikeLike
Nice piece, DK. “Everyone is from somewhere, even if you’ve never been there” (Ian Anderson). Unfortunately, the lines between legal immigration and illegal immigration have been blurred.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yep. And there is the point.
LikeLiked by 1 person
So glad to know you David!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hey! Thanks Melinda.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I would love to interview you….you’re so interesting and yet I know nothing about you. Maybe you can take the time someday. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂 I prefer lurking around in mystery! Kidding. Be happy to catch up some day Melinda.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I know how busy you are….when it’s right it will happen. Funny to! 🙂 Melinda.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reblogged this on It Is What It Is and commented:
‘ I’m standing here, 500 miles north of the Upbring New Hope Children’s Detention Center in McAllen, TX, and a few hours from the border.’ … Amazing thoughts … so very well written!!
I wonder where America’s heart has gone … did it ever have one?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Horty. Thank you for your kind words and for sharing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re most welcome!! 🙏🏽
LikeLiked by 1 person
Chilling read…. hoping against hope…. we are ALL strangers, nearly EVERYWHERE….
We even feel it here in France; we have a different DNA, in subtle ways, we are not French, even though we speak the language, know our ways around, but can’t vote, have to check our tongues as understandings are different to ours…. We are just thankful for all the thoroughly decent, honest, straight-walking and -talking humans everywhere, in every country and continent.
Hope dies last!
LikeLike
The American Quilt is very beautiful…
I’m going to go by your choice of photo. Powerful! And I’ll assume you were in pain for the children 500 miles away from you in the Children’s detention center. I know it pains you as it pains any decent human being. Regardless the photo was taken 2013, 1913, or 1813!!!
The worst thing you can do to someone is separating them from their child. One worse thing, separating the child from the parent. It weighs tons heavier on the child.
I know this is not about what your origin is, or what my origin is. This is about those children in the detention centers.
Where I come from we have a beautiful saying and I was way older when I realised it’s true meaning 😢
I’m Palestinian and where I come from we say, “If you wake up in the middle of the night and you found a stranger in your house, walk around with them! Maybe they’re hungry and came in for food. Maybe they’re cold and came in for shelter. Don’t rush to assume they’re thieves.”
I will not encourage or support illegal entry into this or any country. But, I do not support those detention centers. It was a filthy move to scare people from coming in.
LikeLiked by 2 people
You are something Sawsan. Heart and empathy bleeds all over. Thank you for all that.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for your post, David 🙂
Some days I think to myself, “What has this man done in his life to become a blogger and somehow get a follower who’s a pain in the a$$ like me.”
So, what have you done to deserve this? 😀😀😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Laughing….
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well written, cousin! You have a unique talent for painting a full, colorful picture with very few words. I found myself visualizing your steps and thoughts easily. A heartfelt thanks for keeping us on our toes.
As Sawsan posted earlier, it doesn’t matter when it happened, but that we own up to the fact that it happened and we stop it from happening. As a sovereign nation, we have a right and responsibility to protect our border. As Americans, if we truly wish to continue to be the “land of opportunity”, are we not honor bound to do it BETTER than everyone else?
LikeLiked by 2 people
Awww, thank you Cousin. I appreciate the kind words. And yes, we are honor bound to do it Better than everyone else! Bam!
LikeLike
perfect
LikeLiked by 2 people
Hi Sandy. Thank you. I hope you are well (or well on your way to being there)…
LikeLike
“If you wake up in the middle of the night and you found a stranger in your house, walk around with them! Maybe they’re hungry and came in for food. Maybe they’re cold and came in for shelter. Don’t rush to assume they’re thieves.” Thank you, Sawsan.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Your post brought tears to my eyes! Thanks, David. Beautiful!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Vera! Hope you, Walter and the family are doing well.
LikeLike
Outside its America.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is all that and more Steve…
LikeLike
Never considered you anything other than an “insider” I’m grateful for, your insight, your images…your encouragement of my fragile and faltering writing with your the clicking of a “Star”.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Smiling. Thank you Lisa. There is not fragile or faltering about your or your writing. I would describe the entire package as “Grace.” Full stop.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great post Dave. Would love Trump to do a DNA test and discover he is 50% Mexican! We are all connected, only ignorance separates us. 😢
LikeLiked by 2 people
Now that’s funny!!!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
first response: I just love you David! love these helping, serving people. “whispering in her ear during orientation, be confident, you belong.” Let’s be that to all of these people. No one should ever feel that they don’t belong!
LikeLiked by 1 person
True! Thank you Valerie!
LikeLike
Dang…I’m so boring. I’m like an 11 or 12th generation Canadian… hailing back from France in the late 1600’s on my mother side. My paternal grandfather was Scottish…
LikeLiked by 1 person
I didn’t know there was such a thing of a 11/12 generation Canadian, then again, it’s you, and Special runs through all the veins.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Some Quebeckers have been here a looooong time… And stop it… you are too sweet!
LikeLiked by 1 person
That totally made me just…cry. It’s all so easy to understand, isn’t it? But so many just refuse to. 😦
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes. So many lies, so much mistrust, you wonder when and how this all ends.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The origins of what truly makes America great. Thanks for sharing this David. So glad you are here.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Ilona. Appreciate it.
LikeLike
You captured it perfectly. The beauty is that we are all from somewhere at some point. But some of us have lost sight of it. Thanks for posting this.
LikeLiked by 1 person
We are Helen. Thank you.
LikeLiked by 1 person