IMMIGRATION | HOPE

I Found $1000 and Did the Right Thing

Life is more than a heartbeat

The money I found in February 2013 while walking my dog along the Williamette River in Portland. — Author Photo

Sometimes, a walk with your dog is not always just a walk with your dog…

That’s what the detective told me when the case was closed.

It started when I took my dog to a river. Cranes dotted the Williamette River’s banks, perched over the water like herons waiting for prey. Gnarled tree stumps from headwater streams shared the shoreline with plastic bottles, candy wrappers, and the occasional hypodermic needle. Cars raced east and west along Portland’s bridges, and unseen salmon charged upstream.

I roamed the river’s edge, pocketed pebbles, and wrestled large pieces of driftwood toward my van for my garden. My footprints were crisscrossed with the drag marks of my latest finds. Big Head, my yellow lab, pawed and chewed at the logs as we moved along, steady but unhurried, like the currents at our side.

I noticed the black briefcase first. Zippers open, sand sticking to the cloth areas. With warning thoughts about heroin needles, I searched the main compartment and pockets, never plunging my hand in blindly. No identification. Empty.

Then I noticed the shoes, the shirts, and the pants nearby. I wondered if the contents had spilled out naturally or if…