The West Texas Town of El Paso

(From Steve)

This morning while in El Paso for work I was standing next to the counter at the hotel. In front of me was a thin, very pale man who could not look any more anglo if he tried. He was asking for directions in downtown Juarez. Juarez, which is right across from El Paso, has been the site for over 1,000 murders in the past year and just the previous week nine headless bodies were found in the desert outside of town. NOT the place to go for a Pepsi and a taco. Anyway, the staff from the hotel are trying in many ways to discourage this fool from wandering across the border.

Sir, there are many wonderful things to do on this side of the border. Downtown El Paso is lovely and there are many fine restaurants.

But Gringo boy is not paying any attention to these folks. So, I assisted them in a less than friendly manner.

"The bridge these folks are pointing to is what we like to call THE BRIDGE OF NO RETURN" since most fools like you never come back across."

This caused a few snickers from the staff

"And it would probably be a good idea to leave an next of kin contact since you are determined to be the next innocent victim."

The snickers are now open laughter at gringo boy. But he is now bound and determined to go across the border. Seeing this I left him with one last nugget as I headed out to my rental car.

"P.T. Barnum always said one was born every minute"