all you need is love...

The past few weeks have been what Kate and I have started referring to as "Family-palooza" around La Casa. I have had visits from my brother, mom, sister, & uncle & lunch with a pledge sister, & Kate's sister is visiting this weekend during her fall break. At the same time, we have both started to make plans to visit our families for the holidays. I know we have both be grateful for the visits & it has caused me to start thinking a lot lately about family. I heard a saying once that went, "Be kind to your siblings. They're the best link to your past, and the ones most likely to stick with you in the future." It always made me smile because of its truth for me, siblings, and family in general provide a constant link to your past & the promise of constant presence in your future.

My job also centers around family. At our office we assist people with family visas. As far as visas go, you have two options, basically, family or employment visas. Family visas aim to keep families together. Basically, a family member that is either a resident or citizen can petition for another close relative to receive a visa. It sounds pretty easy, but the reality is that the wait can be long (Right now, under one category, the government reviewing petitions from 1992...that's 15 years if you need a little help) & the fees high (The first form to simply begin the process requires a $355 fee) until families are together again. There are clients who go years and years without seeing their families or, on the other hand, risk their lives to see their families because of a man-made line along a dried up river in South Texas.

So why is it that I am lucky or blessed enough that this is not an issue in my family? Why is it that just because the Rio Grande doesn't cut through the over 1000 miles that separate myself from the rest of my family in Pennsylvania & Florida that we can all be together for holidays, graduations, weddings and other important events? Why is it that just because the Rio Grande does cut through the 150 miles between San Antonio & Coahuila, Mexico are families forced to go years without seeing one another or risk their lives to do so? It doesn't make sense to me.

I hope that as the holidays approach & you make plans to be with your family & friends, that you think of those families separated by war, hunger, poverty and little man-made lines in the earth...

One of my favorite Beatles' songs has kept reminding me that when it comes to physical locations, there is...

"No where you can be that isn't where you're meant to be,

It's easy,

All you need is love".

Peace,

jenna