My life

Posted Jul 27th, 2010

Questions about my youth have recently come from unlikely places.  Thinking about and retelling the story is always helpful.  It can keep you grounded or make one even more determined to succeed.  In my case, it motivates me in ways you couldn’t even imagine.

My early days were spent first in a school where everyone was fairly represented.  That is to say, it was more like the United Nations.  By the age of 8, my life changed dramatically.  We were living near the Mexican border south of San Diego.  Back in that day and time it was very remote.  Today, it’s just more of San Diego County.

My sister and I were the only children in the school that we’re Hispanic.  Blonde hair and blue eyes stood out.  We learned a bit of Spanish, made friends and got along.  Everyone was poor and we fit right in.

By the age of 10 we were homeless and had moved around enough to find shelter in a place that no one wanted.  My sister and I went to school to discover that the whole school was African-American.  Once again, blonde hair and blue eyes seem to stick out.  We understood what it was like to be a minority in our school and our neighborhood.

Circumstances change and the family split up even more.  I found myself living in a middle class neighborhood.  Our neighbors were working class blue collar families.  At high school, it was 60% Jewish, 25% Hispanic and the balance of us were more like Heinz 57.  Every variety, size shape and religion you can think of.  Basically, we were the mutts.

This taught me many lessons in life that I still eat, sleep and breathe everyday.  May I share them with you?

1. We are all from the family of Man.  This means that we’re all related.
2. We all need the same basics to live and enjoy life.
3. No one is better than another person.
4. No matter what, we’re all different.
5. With difference come options.
6. We all want the same basic things.
7. We are our Brother’s Keeper.  If don’t insure that our Brother’s rights are preserved, ours will also be gone.  We all deserve to be treated as equals.
8. There are differences because of age, cultural experiences, our environment, education and attitude that can determine just how much we’re loved and appreciated by others.
9. You can’t change others, you can only show them or demonstrate that change is possible.
10. If you help enough other people get what they want out of life, you’ll always have what you need.

Happy 4th of July

Posted Jul 2nd, 2010

Happy 4th of July!  Let’s remember all the people that have fought in all the wars to insure that we are a free people.  Let’s also remember the women and men serving in our Armed Forces here and abroad.  We salute you all.  Thank you for the freedom we enjoy!