"At the age of 3, I discovered I was living in an orphanage, alongside 300 other young souls."
My journey began in 1935, under the northern skies of Machias, Maine, but life had a different map in mind. Before I could even comprehend the vastness of the world, my family was uprooted to the sun-soaked lands of Florida. However, destiny took an unexpected turn at the tender age of three-I lost both my folks and found solace within the shared walls of an orphanage.
Staying put was never my forte. At twelve, fueled by a longing to connect, I began hitching rides to Florida to visit my sister. Despite the warmth of family, she would inevitably send me packing back to the familiar embrace of the orphanage. Undeterred, the following year saw me setting my sights on Philly, in an attempt to bridge the gap with my brother. Alas, the script remained unchanged-back to the orphanage I went.
Yet, 'no' was never the final chapter for me. Finally! At fifteen, I broke free from those institutional walls. Hitching rides with truckers became my passport to exploration, traversing the open roads and immersing myself in the diverse tales of those I met.
Life, as you can imagine, has been an exhilarating rollercoaster. Those formative years etched indelible lessons into my spirit-how to depend on myself, make the most of the cards dealt, and persistently forge ahead. That, my friend, encapsulates the McCabe way-finding a path, no matter the hurdles that life throws our way.
