How did I get here? - Talking Heads - Once in a Lifetime (Official Video)

How Did I Get Here?

I retired in 2021 after a long career as a wine importer and distributor in the U.S., a journey that began in 1996. But how did I get here? To answer that, I will share a few stories, along with articles from newspapers and magazines, for the record.

First, I escaped communist Bulgaria in 1985 and arrived in Anchorage, Alaska. Since I had requested political asylum, the U.S. Immigration Service transferred me to Denver, Colorado, for processing. Back then, there was no Immigration Court in Alaska—I wonder if there is one there now.

After months of waiting idly for my work permit and green card, I took a job in construction. Eventually, a kind Greek restaurant owner named Georgio, who had named his downtown Denver restaurant after himself, hired me as a busboy. Earning $3.75 an hour made me incredibly happy—not to mention the great food, which included a free meal, plus a few extra dollars in tips. I worked under the table until I finally obtained my work permit.

During that time, I began making friends through the Russian church that had sponsored me before the Immigration Service. Through them, I was introduced to a warm and generous American family who took me into their home. They lived in Five Points, one of the poorest neighborhoods in Denver and a historically Black community, located just next to downtown.