I don’t make too many friends in prison. Throughout the decades I’ve served, I’ve conditioned myself to serve time alone, interacting with no more than one or two of my fellow prisoners on a daily basis. I find more peace in solitude, as it feels disconcerting when friends I make go home. Next week at this time, my friend Justin Paperny will return to his community near Los Angeles.
Justin was a former stockbroker at UBS who served a bit longer than a year at Taft Camp. He pleaded guilty to a single count of securities fraud, and we met soon after he arrived. Justin was assigned to the same housing unit as mine, and we spent a lot of time together. I met his wonderful mother in the visiting room, his father, his brother, and several of his close friends, including Brad Fullmer and Sam Pompeo. The past year advanced quickly, as we created a small community here.
During the time that Justin was here, we ate together most every day, and we worked at the same table in one of the unit’s quiet rooms. I introduced Justin to the therapeutic relief that comes through writing, and I worked with him as he prepared his memoir, Lessons From Prison.
Upon his release, Justin expects to launch a new career as a speaker and consultant. He aspires to help others make better decisions, and I applaud his efforts. I look forward to seeing him again upon my release, though that liberty may not come for three to four more years.
I know that he is enthusiastic for his release, and I feel happy for him. As I move through these final years of my sentence, I expect to serve my time alone, relying only on the written word and visits from my wife to keep my focus. This is the end, the final miles of my marathon, and I cannot afford to take my mind off the task at hand. That requires a total investment of my energy in preparations for release. I’m on it.
This morning I began my work at 2:40. I spent the day working on the proposal for the new book. After several hours, I completed the outline for a 105,000 word manuscript. Now I must work on the proposal itself. I enjoy this work.
I ran at 6:00 AM. With today’s 10 miles, my tally now stands at 1,347 miles over the past 152 consecutive days. I’m running home.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
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