June declared as "Immigration Month"is pretty special to me. Proof here:

[Mira]

I pulled out the old passport and yep
sure enough (not that I would ever forget it)
I immigrated in June. On the 7th, so my anniversary was yesterday.

You can see that half a century ago I came to this wonderful land where I felt at home as soon as I put foot on the soil, and where I immediately found acceptance all around me.
I was in my late teens, knew a family, spoke school English, and had 40 bucks in my pocket.




The photo is me on the deck of the coal freighter on which I was one of 10 passengers from Rotterdam to Norfolk.

I left home because I was the oldest of 7 children in a very poor family, and had to get away to find my own place in the world.
Also I was not happy with how Germany mishandled the second world war history in my school, and I wanted to leave it.
I came into the American South in 1964, and people pressingly wanted to explain to me the differences between "us" and the people of color.
They did not get very far from the first hint of trying.

I became a citizen in order to vote for McGovern,
I have only voted for Democrats in the last 50 years, except once. In a local race, the Republican lawyer I hired to get child support due had done a good job for me, and he wanted to become District attorney, he won and did a fine job for my city as well.

More than you probably ever wanted to know about me, or maybe not enough.
But I love you folks here and I appreciate your acceptance of this immigrant in a whole country full of almost nothing but...........

[dixiegrrrrl]

1. Tis we who are lucky you chose to be here.

I know enough about you that I can say your presence and influence in more than a few people's lives have been a blessing and a great gift,
and we are all the better for knowing you.

Happy Anniversary!!!!!

[Mira]

2. Dearest Dixiegrrrrl,

here we are in Dixie, more of less together, and it's all one of those happy "accidents" of life.
One of my very favorite contemplations is the one of the road not taken, or the road taken as it were.
And how incredibly much one decision is never an end to anything but a beginning of a new path.

Thank you my friend for your kind words, deeds, and friendship.
It's a very happy anniversary indeed!

[Jefferson23]

3. Hey there..that is an exciting story..happy anniversary. You sound happy, congrats. n/t

[Solly Mack]

4. Happy Anniversary, M!

Cool bit of history!