Border Reunions

Decided to get out of doing some weekend chores around the house and make a run for the border. I figure some people like to go to the beach, others to the mall, maybe some to a movie or a picnic, I love going down as far South as I can until my native country ends. It's such a place unto its self. The smells, the language, the scenery(man-made and natural), the politics, are all such a study in contrasts. I've been in San Diego for over 20 years now and the border area still baffles, inspires, excites, intrigues and angers me at the same time. I've seen the wall transform from rutty old pieces of WW11 air landing mat, with holes where you could buy tacos or Helados from vendors in Mexico, or see people passing their kids through to family members on the other side, usually for a quick hug, to today, Post 911, where we now have these new high tech fences, sometimes 3 across, to keep any possible "terrorists" from entering from the South. No matter what position you take on Illegal immigration, there is a new found(last 10 years) display of absurd, over-the -top security measures that reeks of a country that has become overly paranoid and has succumbed to big money contracts for the folks who make and install all this stuff. I mean, as our wars in the Middle East have been winding down, the companies who were making the bombs, artillary, tanks and spy stuff need to keep making that shit to stay alive.
Anyhoo, sorry for the rant. The above photos are of these groups of family and friends who come to the wall, on both sides of the border, to meet-up, and spend some face to face time with each other. Usually they have been separated by one of the members being deported(I.E.Dad was at work in a factory in Riverside, INS came in, caught and sent him back to Mexico. Mom and kids are still here. Dad is trying to figure out a way to get home) The stories are endless and usually heartbreaking. In true Latin fashion though, they all seem very upbeat, smiling, laughing, taking cell phone pix and sticking their fingers through a tiny mesh fence to touch their loved ones. You can feel an under-riding pain in the air, but they seem to just make the most of it and enjoy what precious time they have with each other. It's truly inspiring