The Ties That Bind

I heard a soft knock on the door. "Pásale!" I hollered out and glanced up from my work. Martin, the oldest teenager living with us, poked his head through the door and smiled faintly.

"I don't know how to tie this. Can you help?" he said holding a tie out to me.

"Uh oh," I thought to myself. Mike is gone to Las Vegas for the weekend at the Lenten Desert Experience and I have never tied a tie before in my entire life. I followed Martin upstairs. His parents (in photo to the right), uncle and aunt were all in the living room. Not one knew the least bit about tying a tie. Neither of the men had ever worn one. We were in a bit of a quandary and time was running short. Martin had to be at the high school in 15 minutes to catch the van from the Boys and Girls Club that would drive him, his date and friends into San Francisco for their Senior Prom.

After only a moment's hesitation, I signaled Martin to follow me. We ran next door and rang the bell of our neighbors, hoping that one of them would be home to help. Tie Tying 101 ensued and, after a couple trial and error attempts, Martin was ready, thanks to Jim, Valerie and Stevie.

Getting a tie tied probably doesn't seem like too big of a deal, but to a young boy heading off to his Senior Prom and his parents, all from an impoverished rural area of Mexico, it means the world. It is a symbol of where he and his family have been...and where they are going. In his few short years here in the U.S., Martin has earned a 3.7 GPA, has learned English, tutors math at Cunha Middle School and will graduate from high school this June. He is headed off to college this Fall with dreams of being a teacher.

Neighbors helping to tie that tie is a small example of how no one gets anywhere or achieves anything alone. We are all in this together, and Martin would be the first to agree. Like that tie, we are all bound together...past, present and future.

"Have fun!" Valerie and Stevie called after Martin as he bounded down their steps. "We are!" I grinned to myself.