Last night, about six in the evening, as I was talking with Carole over the phone, I watched my case manager walk into the housing unit.  She walked rapidly, with a clear purpose.  She walked past me at the phone bank and over toward the area where people gather to watch television.  She went directly [...]

Readers who’ve followed my work for any length of time know that I frequently use countdowns to measure the passage of time. One thing I’ve always counted are my fitness goals–for example, last summer I set a goal to run 50 marathons before I left Taft. A while ago I set a goal to run [...]

With the news I received yesterday about a probation officer visiting my intended release residence, I thought a great deal about what I would be doing during these remaining months that I expect to serve in prison. I think that I have one more year to serve. Both Carole and I must use that time [...]

Earlier this week I received my personal property from the Taft federal prison camp. I transferred from Taft to Atwater nearly a full month ago. I’m sure that my property arrived awhile ago, but the guards just delivered it to me this past Thursday. I was happy to receive it. I didn’t have much in [...]

I’m working with my wife, Carole, to expand options that we may pursue upon my release. As a long-term prisoner, I must anticipate that many in society will be less than inclined to welcome me home upon release. In America we like to say that we’re a country of forgiveness and second chances, but it [...]

Today I taught my first Straight-A Guide class to a group of prisoners in the Taft Federal Prison Camp. Administrators told me that I could not refer to the program by name, so I announced the class as Conquering Imprisonment and Preparing for Reentry. The cumbersome name wasn’t the best, but it did ignite an [...]

Today I began a new project that I’m hopeful will contribute to my successful transition in society upon release. Without question, my time in prison will come to an end within two years. Although I don’t yet have certainty with regard to when I will walk out of prison, I am relatively sure that I [...]

I attended a meeting today that included speakers from the Bureau of Prisons, a halfway house, and the federal probation department. I really enjoyed listening to people who work in the departments that will oversee my life when I return to society. It’s somewhat surreal for me to have reached this stage of my journey. [...]