Thursday, 29 January 2009
I’m writing this blog entry at 6:06 on Thursday morning. Generally I write my blog entries for my daily journal at the end of the day, or very early the following morning. Today I began writing at 1:40 a.m., so I’ve already had a full and productive day of work with more than 16 handwritten pages of various blog entries. Instead of waiting until tomorrow morning to record my activities for today, I’m writing my journal entry now.
I’m pleased to have completed five separate blog postings so early in the morning. I strive to make every day of my confinement productive. This is the strategy that has guided me through more than 21 years of imprisonment. I announce what I intend to accomplish through my published values and goals, then I invite readers to hold me accountable through regular reporting on my activities.
In the past, I wrote quarterly reports. This year, I began recording my daily activities. I hope to help others understand more about life in confinement, so I live my life as an open book and invite comments from readers. Since prison administrators restrict my access to telephone calls, these daily recordings also apprise family and friends of how I live inside these boundaries.
I hope that daily descriptions ease the pain that my mother and sisters feel as a consequence of the phone restrictions that prohibit me from calling them. Someday my imprisonment will end and I’ll be able to reconnect. For now, I must reserve my 10-minute allotment of telephone time for my wife, Carole.
Carole has been with me through this prison term since 2002. In some ways she senses that I am more stressed as my release date comes closer. I don’t recognize the stress that she describes. I simply feel that I must work harder than ever to prepare for the challenges that await my release. That is why I begin my work so early in the morning, and the reason I am running longer distances than ever before. I must prepare.
In 30 minutes I am scheduled to appear at health services. I presume the nurse wants to give me the tetanus shot she spoke about during my physical a few days ago. After I report there, I will walk to the track. I intend to run 10 miles, which will lift my tally to 443 miles over 48 consecutive days of running. I noticed a slight pain near my hip this morning, but that will not interfere with my exercise.
After my run, I’ll spend the rest of the day editing the lengthy manuscript. Without access to computers, this work requires much more labor than most writers endure. Still, I’m making progress, and I’m convinced the efforts will contribute to my success upon release. I may find time to write another article or two, and of course I’ll write a letter expressing my love to Carole. Tomorrow, Friday, we’re scheduled to visit. I’m eager to hold my wife again.
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