Ken Klonsky

Outing the Law: a Website on Injustice

MY WEST COAST TRIP

MY WEST COAST TRIP

During many of my talks around the country as well as in Canada, I make it a point to inform the audience that my life changed in 2004 when I met Ken Klonsky.  This life-changing encounter with Ken was especially gratifying because it was the first time I had ever met someone who lived in Canada.  Growing up in Brooklyn New York, I was fascinated with other parts of the world, but never thought that I would meet anyone living in Canada.  The more Ken and I talked, the more we talked about traveling.

Early in my blog, I talked about my experience in Toronto and what that experience was like.  While Toronto was a wonderful and exciting experience, my recent visit to Vancouver was equally wonderful and exciting.   Before I talk about my visit to Vancouver, I must talk about my visit to Ferndale Washington to see my good friend Gary Dolin and his wonderful wife Martha and daughter Sarah.  My time there was enjoyable and refreshing.  Gary and I use to spend a lot of time talking about visiting him and his family.  Even though one night was not nearly enough time to spend together, we made the most of it.  I flew into Seattle-Tacoma Airport, also known as Sea-Tac.  Flying over the stadium where the NFL Seahawks play their home games was surreal, because a couple of years ago I watched that team win a super bowl.  I saw the space needle in downtown Seattle that I saw so many times on television.  Because I did not spend much time in Seattle, I plan to go back at some point to experience what the emerald city has to offer.  Now that I have a job I don’t have the time or the flexibility to travel.

Gary’s wife Martha is a really good cook.  Tasting her food for the first time was amazing! Gary live in a modest home in a nice out-of-the-way area about three hours from Seattle, and about an hour from the Canadian border.  I remember Gary and I talked regularly about his farm so I was not surprised when I finally saw the farm.  I stayed in a house next to Gary.  I enjoyed visiting Gary and his family.

Gary lives about an hour and a half from Vancouver , where Ken and his wife Mary Ellen lives.  It was an interesting ride which included a lot of sight-seeing on my part.  The ride was scenic . I enjoyed the view of the mountains.  Those visions reminded me of my thoughts and aspirations while I was incarcerated in terms of what it would be like riding from Gary’s home to Vancouver .  I was surprised by my encounter with a border agent who asked me several probing-like questions.   I initially thought it was standard operating procedure, until I thought about my criminal background.  Although I was exonerated, my criminal record has not been expunged.   Nevertheless, I did not allow the encounter to discourage me.  I was heading to Vancouver British Columbia and nothing was going to steal my joy.  Besides, I experienced much worse in my life.

Vancouver is absolutely beautiful.  I had never seen so many huge mountains, seemingly everywhere I looked.  The downtown area had a scenic view of its own.  Much like other cities I had visited, like Toronto, San Francisco, and Montreal  I really felt the energy of the people.  I especially loved being downtown with Ken and Mary Ellen, and spending time with their friends Joanne and Neil, who were very pleasant and easy to talk to.  I enjoyed the aquarium and the museum .  They were small venues compared to New York, but everything is smaller when compared to New York.  Nevertheless, I the two places had their own unique beauty.

Not long after I arrived at Ken and Mary Ellen’s home, they took me to the water a few blocks away.  A place we talked about many times.  Watching the boats and yachts docked at the nearby port was great.   It was quite a scene to see that, especially with the sun beaming on the water as boats sailed and ships traveled nearby .  Although I was amazed, I was not overwhelmed by the moment.   Ken and Mary Ellen prepared me for this.  They said I would enjoy that part of Vancouver.   Ken and Mary Ellen chose this particular area to live because it was near the water.   I had never seen so many people jogging and cycling.  People jogged along the beach; some pushed baby strollers , while others ran with dogs.  Health and fitness seemed to be a top priority .  It was really fascinating to watch on a daily basis.  Mary Ellen is a fabulous cook and I was not surprised by the way Ken and Mary Ellen prepared their dishes nor was I surprised by how healthy they ate. I was very impressed with all the meals.

Ken, Mary Ellen, Martha, Gary and I took a boat ride  to a small town in British Columbia called Gibsons. The ride was interesting for many reasons, mainly because I took a boat ride for the first time in my life.  Gibsons  looked to be a retirement destination or some place for people to get away from the more populated Vancouver.  We had lunch at a restaurant near the water.  Ken said that I was fortunate to visiting Vancouver at the time because the weather was cooperating .  I reasoned that nature owed me a favor given my problems of the past 29 years.

I had the honor of speaking to law students at the University of British Columbia (UBC). The students had initially invited me to speak at UBC when we met at the Annual Exoneration Conference in Orlando Florida last April.  Ken warned me about the campus.   The view atop the campus was something that I won’t soon forget.  Ken could not have been more accurate in his description of the campus.  I talked to the students for about thirty minutes which was later followed by some very insightful questions.

On the morning of my trip back to New York, I thought Ken and Mary Ellen sensed that I was sad and somehow knew that I was not quite ready to go home.   I am sure it is not unusual for someone visiting Vancouver for the first time to feel the way I did.  The places I visited in both Washington and Vancouver were truly beautiful in every sense of the word and I thoroughly enjoyed my time there.

3 thoughts on “MY WEST COAST TRIP

  1. Hi David. After watching your story on Netflix, I had to do a search of your name. I am so happy you are traveling and speaking! Enjoy every moment! Your attitude is an inspiration to me! God Bless You! Kathy

  2. David your story from me and david to faterhood now. Since i saw the video of your story it has changed my view on life drastically. For years i have done things that i thought i knew what was best for me but the decisions i made where out of childhood rebelion just as ray in the story of u reay and ken. Your story has rouched so many people and has tottaly changed my view on life and has made me look at things in a whole new light. For u to remain strong and remaining fighting no matter the outcome wile ur incarcerated was something that changed me forever. Im so appreciative of ray and gis story cause i was just like him and have a crappy family situation but u tought me some things through ur life struggles. Who would of thought all this time later ur still touching and changing lives and have done so dramatically in my life. I am a father of two and one on the way, and im beyond happy that u get to live out a dream u thought u might never get a chance to live. Congratulations. Theres so much to say and so much thanks to give u for all u have done for me and others. The amazing gift of fatherhoos is blessing, and i have no doubt ur a great father. Every second as a father means something to that child. And know u will instill something special in that child most take for granted. I cant thabk u ray, ken enough for ur influance on my life. Every single story of urs, ray, and ken has done something special for my life that nothing has been able to do on earth. God works in mysterious ways and am glad to have came across an amazing story that has forever changed my outlook and rhat i am forever thankful to u ken and ray and every loving heart that stood up to fight for someone they knew was wrong. And never stopped till u came home. A million thank u’s and blessings from my heart i send to u all. Like i said i can write for ever cause i have so much appreciation for you all and so much understanding of every story involved in that video me and david. Thank u and god bless and if i was ever to meet any of u great hearted brothers of mine throught god, id give u a huge hug and thank u for changing my life and through that u have changed my kids life. And that i can never thank u enough.
    Much love and respect,
    Your brother michael willox
    orange county california

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