Prison Journal: Day 8,180
January 1, 2010
I had a wonderful boost of energy this morning when I opened my eyes at 2:28 and acknowledged that we’re in a new year, and a new decade. I was eager to begin making progress toward the goals I’ve set. The first order of work for me was organizational. I transferred dates and records I’ve kept in my 2009 planner to the new 2010 planner that I’ve been storing in my locker since November. Then I began writing.
I finished a book report for Black Boy, a wonderful autobiography by Richard Wright, and I wrote my fourth quarter report for 2009. That year is now behind me. It was a productive year, but I’m glad that it’s now in my past, along with all the other years I’ve served in prison. My 23rd holiday season is also a memory. Before sleeping last night, I thought about where I was and what I was doing on each of the previous New Year’s eves since 1987. I have clear memories of each—always in a prison rack, eager to sleep and wake to a new year.
But beginning 2010 is different from all the years past, at least symbolically. It’s different because I’m now in the decade that will mark my release from prison, no matter what. The feeling is sweetened because release will come in the early rather than the latter part of the decade. I don’t know whether release will be in 2010, 2011, or 2012, but I know with certainty that I’ll be home before the end of 2013. At worst, I have three more holiday seasons in prison, and I doubt I’ll serve all three.
After writing a bit in the early morning, I spent time working on a collaboration project I’ve begun. This project will keep me busy through June, assuming it continues until completion. I’m not at liberty to write the details of it, but the work makes a significant contribution to my family and to society. When I’m released from the restrictive world of prison, I’ll elaborate more freely on the measurable work I do in preparation for future. Now that I’m in the final 10 percent of my imprisonment phase, my focus on preparations becomes more laser like, without any distractions.
This morning I enjoyed my first exercise of the New Year. I continue to run slow but steady. Carole wasn’t scheduled to visit until 9:30, so I had time for a full exercise session. I ran 10 miles and followed with 400 pushups. In order to reach my goal of 100,000 pushups by year-end, I’ll keep a pace of 2,000 pushups each week throughout the year.
Today I begin reading Lessons From Prison, a book that my friend Justin Paperny wrote. He served about one year with me in Taft Camp, and used his time effectively by becoming an author and training for a career he envisioned as a speaker and consultant. He’s one of the few prisoners I’ve known to walk out of prison with a career intact, and begin thriving at once. I look forward to finally reading his book.
[Consecutive running log: 3,410 miles over 385 days]
[Cumulative pushup total begins with 400]
Friday, 1 January 2010
Prison Journal: Day 8,041
August 15, 2009
I woke early this morning, at 1:07, invigorated after my wonderful visit with Carole yesterday. She looked radiant, and I can’t believe my good fortune to have married such a lovely woman while I still had so much time to serve in prison.
Carole brought some news from my friend Justin Paperny. Justin served a year with me here in Taft Camp, and we grew to be close friends during our time together. He transferred to a halfway house in Hollywood last May, and since July he has lived under strict restrictions of home confinement. Later this week, on 18 August, Justin concludes his prison and confinement obligation. He still must report to a probation officer for supervised release, but at least the prison system’s hold on him has come to an end.
Justin served his sentence with dignity, and worked exceptionally hard to use the time effectively. During the 12 months he served, Justin exercised daily, he read voraciously, and he wrote to document every day of his journey through a blog his mother, Tallie, maintained on his behalf. Besides all that, Justin wrote and published a book while he was at Taft Camp. The book is called Lessons from Prison, and it’s available through his web site at JustinPaperny.com.
Readers who may be new to the criminal justice system may want to contact Justin before they get too far into the process. Before he self-surrendered to Taft Camp, he made some decisions that cost him considerable amounts of money, and exposed himself to a longer term in prison. He is an example of a man who not only survived prison, but truly thrived through prison, as his accomplishments attest.
This morning I resumed my work on the Earning Freedom manuscript at 1:36, writing the first words for chapter eight. By the time I finished my writing day, I reached page 330 of the manuscript. I ran 10 miles in the morning, bringing my running tally to 2,178 miles over the past 246 days.
Prison Journal: Day 7,947
May 13, 2009
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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