I enjoyed a productive day of writing, as I made excellent progress with the sample chapter of the new book proposal I began writing earlier this week. In the afternoon, as I was editing, an inmate gave me some news about the camp in Sheridan. Apparently, the camp now offers inmates access to e-mail.
Carole has been urging me to transfer to the camp in Sheridan for a long time. I have resisted because my time has passed so productively here at Taft Camp. This has been the best prison for serving time during all the years that I’ve been confined. I do not feel any stress from the staff, and I’ve been able to work on my writing without any interference. I may not have access to the typewriters, but I’ve become more comfortable writing in longhand.
Besides the absence of pressure, I really like the weather here in Taft. We have two hot months, July and August, but I exercise every day of the year. The only drawback for me in Taft has been that administrative rules only allow me to visit one day each week. Carole and I have gotten used to this schedule, though we’ve always hoped for more visits.
In Sheridan Camp, administrators permit the inmates to visit Friday evenings, Saturdays, Sundays, and federal holidays. That’s a big advantage for families like ours. We’ve had to nurture our entire marriage in prison visiting rooms. With the more restrictive access to visiting here at Taft, Carole and I have suffered; my extended family has not been able to spend much time with me at all.
Carole and I had been prepared to remain here at Taft until my release. With this news about e-mail access at Sheridan, the appeal for a transfer feels much stronger. With e-mail I would have much more opportunity to build upon my network of support. It’s crucial that I use these final years of my term most effectively. With e-mail access and more visiting opportunities, I could work much more effectively toward release preparations.
The Warden at Taft told me previously that the e-mail program would never come to Taft. Although I prefer this camp to all other prisons where I’ve been confined, Carole and I will give serious consideration to a request for a transfer to the camp at Sheridan. I am scheduled for a team meeting in June, so we’ll have to decide whether to request a transfer by then.
I ran 10 miles this morning, boosting my tally to 1,056 miles over the past 120 consecutive days.
Saturday, 11 April 2009
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