I just wanted to interrupt the story to mention that today is my brother’s birthday. When you are locked up, it seems that since we have more time, we are better able to keep track of dates. Anyone can imagine that date-keeping is very important in prison. Anyway, I sent him a card and hope he likes it.

My brother and I have a long history. Since David and I grew up together, we were close at times and not so close at other times. We always managed to stay in touch even when we were far apart. Since I now live with my brother, I am glad that he was able to take me in and provide a place that I could get back into society from. I owe my brother Dave a lot! I always try to help him whenever I can since he has helped me so much!

A guard has to “Punch you through”, and it was a weird feeling. Having been locked in the same building for the last year, to get to the point where there was only one door between me and freedom was exciting. I had no intention of trying to escape, but one naturally hopes that some scenario will enable your release. Visions of a natural disaster or some freak oversight that would lead to my being able to “make a run for it” danced through my head.

I was soon returned to reality when I was asked to sit. The concrete bench had metal circles sticking out of them and I wondered what they were for. I found out presently, when they handcuffed my right hand to the loop. Again, I waited. After awhile, the door opened and I gathered that my escort had arrived. As usual, the government paperwork had to be in proper order and it was another great wait for that to be taken care of.

Today is known as the first day of spring. To many inmates it’s just another day. For some lucky few, it’s a milestone in the time they have to serve. Inmates commonly use important dates to check the progress of how much time they have left. Time is always a hot topic and prisoners will talk about it all the time. Some people like me, tried to forget time and many times I was successful.

There were times when I didn’t even know what month it was. This tactic worked very well for me for a long time. Just doing time was all I wanted and counting my days was always depressing! Anyway, spring is always good to see as it meant the long cold winter was finally at its end!

* typically, a prisoner goes to a country or regional jail. once tried and convicted, they are then sent to receiving where they are processed before going on to a state penitentiary.

When I first arrived at receiving, it had already been a long day. I was called out early in the morning to pack up and be ready to leave. I put all my possessions in a plastic tub and said goodbye to my cellmates. I promised to write and to say “hey” to various other people on their behalf. I was taken downstairs and put in a holding cell. After a long wait, they came and got me and took me through the double doors which are always locked.

The double doors are controlled by a guard in a booth. No matter what happens in the jail, the only way in or out is through these doors. Twenty four hours a day, someone sits in the control booth and buzzes people in and out. The guard has maximum visibility through the glass. There is no doubt that to try and break the glass would be futile. I wonder how boring of a person you would have to be to hold the job!
Continued…

Since being released from prison, I have struggled to get my life back in order. Following all the conditions of my parole and staying out of trouble are my number one priorities. Finding employment is the biggest challenge. It is very difficult to find work. I knew it may be hard to find a job, but had no idea of just how hard it turned out to be!

Everyone wants to do a background check these days. I realized I may not be able to work at the Pentagon, but didn’t know I would be unable to have many other commonplace jobs. You need to pass a background check to clean houses, be a maintenance man, or pull cable in a building.

Thank goodness I have found some work in the construction world!!