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 8,036
August 10, 2009
Today I complete my 1,144th week in prison. I arrive at that number because today I complete my 22nd full year. The number isn’t exact because of the several leap years, but with 8,036 days in, I don’t think that anyone would dispute it’s been a long time. Yet the time hasn’t been wasted.
Those who know me can attest to my positive attitude. Every morning, I wake early, filled with optimism and eager to progress toward the next goal I’m working on. I don’t require an alarm clock, as the goals I set bring me all the energy I need to hop off my rack before three each morning and begin my work.
This morning, I began writing at 2:27. About one hour later, two prisoners who were being released today stopped by to wish me well. One who went by the nickname Psyche was with me 20 years ago in a penitentiary. The other had served 17 years. Someday, my release will come.
I wrote through page 309 today. Tomorrow, I think I will complete the first draft of chapter seven. Carole ought to submit the proposal along with the first three chapters today. Once my agent receives them, he’ll determine whether they are ready to submit to our publisher in New York.
I ran 10 miles this morning. My running tally is now 2,135 miles over the past 241 days.
Prison Journal: Day 8,029
August 3, 2009
Carole and I expect my release will come in no more than three years. The Bureau of Prisons (BOP) has a schedule that shows my release from prison will come in August of 2013, but I become eligible for release on parole a bit sooner, and for halfway house placement sooner still. Once I’m out of prison, we begin the next phase of our lives, and we’re both taking our preparations very seriously.
My hopes are to build a career in writing, speaking, and teaching, so I’ll spend several hours each day working to advance that agenda. I am proud to have received a formal invitation to speak at Stanford University Law School once I’m free, and I’m actively looking to receive additional speaking invitations. Naturally, once I’m free this task will be easier, but even from prison I can take affirmative steps to ensure that when I am released, opportunities await me.
The big project I’m working on to prepare for release is my new manuscript, Earning Freedom. This morning I woke early and resumed writing on chapter six. By 5:40 am, I wrote through page 268, then I went outside to exercise. After completing my 10-mile run, I wrote through page 272. I may finish the first draft of this chapter tomorrow.
The manuscript motivates me, and I’ll keep working at it for as long as it takes to secure a publishing agreement. I ought to finish a draft of the entire story by October, though continued polishing may require many more drafts.
When I complete this manuscript, I intend to write a few more. My intentions are to leave prison with a considerable amount of content to launch my career. That’s why every day I serve is important, essential to my success.
My 10-mile run this morning boosted my tally to 2,072 miles over the past 234 days.
Prison Journal: Day 8,025
July 30, 2009
This morning I resumed my work on chapter six at 1:24 am. Sometimes the urge to write more wakes me, and I sit up in my rack. Why sleep more? I’m rested and motivated, so I hop down, gather my dictionary, pens, and envelopes stuffed with my previous writing, and walk to the room where I work.
When I opened the door this morning, another prisoner was sitting at the table reading. Whereas I was just beginning my day, he had not yet gone to sleep. Many prisoners spend their days sleeping, and watch television or play table games at night. The early mornings are my most productive, so I was glad when the other prisoner surrendered the table and room for me to work.
At 4:00 am, I watched as Walt, a friend of mine, carried his boxes up toward the control center and walked out the doors. After more than 12 years of prison, he was released to a halfway house. When he walked out, I was reminded of my other friend, Justin, who was released from Taft Prison Camp last May. It must be an extraordinary feeling to leave prison. I thought about the possibility for awhile, though the concept still seems surreal to me. I’ve got a few more years to serve, another 1,000 or so days. That reality put me back to work on my writing.
By the end of the day I advanced chapter six through page 258. Tomorrow morning, I will edit rather than write, but I’m still on track to finish this chapter next week.
I ran 10 miles this morning. My tally is now 2,039 miles over the past 230 consecutive days.
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