Thanks for writing! I finished the transcription for your post.
And just a thought. You say you´re manly looking, there are some gay men who, even though they claim to be attracted to men, are usually attracted to feminine types of guys, and if they are feminine themselves, they probably would expect you to act that way to believe you, but I can assure you that many gay men like precisely that: men. The reason why the "closeters" like you best could be because of the same thing, since you don´t "look" gay, they feel safe being seen with you without people thinking there is a relationship between us.
Dear Amber, Since you're in there for drug related issues, there is hope. I don't know what drugs you had issues with but marijuana is becoming legal in some states. Washington and Colorado just made marijuana legal for recreational use. Prosecutors in Washington and Colorado threw out their marijuana cases. They're no longer prosecuting people for marijuana. The cases were thrown out. More states might legalize marijuana in the future. If they do then it might be easier for people convicted of drug felonies to have their record expunged.Or at-least people with drug felonies would be de-stigmatized. Stay strong. Sincerely Melissa
I also can't wait for Christ to return so things can be peaceful. I want an end to all of the insanity in the world. I have spread the gospel. I use to pass out gospel tracts. I don't anymore though. Stay strong in the Lord. Love Melissa
Hello Guy, Sorry I just got one of your letters and it had the wrong zip code the right one is 76164 that maybe why I had not gotten anything before from you. Yes I live with my brother again, back in June I decided to give Fred another chance and I moved back in with him and everything was going great we had worked out our problems and we were making it work. Then on July 8th he had a massive heart attack and passed away. I had to move back in with my brother and then I completely lost it and ended up in the psych hospital for awhile. I finally got better and then my step-mother calls me and tells me that my dad has been put on hospice and it terminal. I am still holding it together and am working as a medical assistant in a clinic, I work from 3pm to 11pm and sleep most of the day till it is time to go to work. I work as much as I can to keep my mind off Fred. Towards the end I finally realized that I had always loved him and that I would do crazy things just so that I could hurt him. Before he died he did show me how much he loved me and that he always had and it was me that kept pushing him away and making excuses. Well I will close for now and send this off. Hope your doing well and keep in touch... elle
I like the way you see the world too. I live in Australia and I see a lot of similar issues here amongst our Indigenous people. Some of these issues I became aware of as a school girl, of course through our media, and other things didn't become clear to me until I began to study Indigenous Australian issues at university. It appears to me that many of our Aboriginal people aren't as successful as they could, or should be, because they (in my opinion) often serve to hold each other back with small world thinking (and I think this is what you're describing in these people you were speaking with). It is part of traditional Aboriginal culture to support each other and live in a collectivist way, much like how I perceive African Americans once were. Those that survived the colonial slaughter of our settlement must have had to work hard together, much like your ancestors and it's incredibly sad that these once strong, proud groups appear to have in some ways lost their direction and seem to tear each other down more often then they appear to build each other up.
It is a shame that our modern societies have changed these once beautiful practices of taking care of each other and warped them into wanting to keep each other on an even keel at the exclusion of other groups. I see this as a failure in our societies, something precious that we've lost as we've gained a global society.
I think you have a much greater chance of success with the way you view the world than do those who see the world as purely black & white.
This is such an incredible post. I love the idea that it is through the choices we make in how we act and react that shapes our reality. It really resonates with me.
It sounds like you also probably had a huge impact on others through the Mindful Living group. Do you still run a group like that?
I've shared some of your posts with others - they're incredible. What else can I do to help enact prison reform? Do you have access to see what bills are in the legislature? Is there one I should support?
RSS
And just a thought. You say you´re manly looking, there are some gay men who, even though they claim to be attracted to men, are usually attracted to feminine types of guys, and if they are feminine themselves, they probably would expect you to act that way to believe you, but I can assure you that many gay men like precisely that: men. The reason why the "closeters" like you best could be because of the same thing, since you don´t "look" gay, they feel safe being seen with you without people thinking there is a relationship between us.
Good luck!!
Sincerely
Melissa
Love
Melissa
Do you do a lot of creative writing?
Sorry I just got one of your letters and it had the wrong zip code the right one is 76164 that maybe why I had not gotten anything before from you.
Yes I live with my brother again, back in June I decided to give Fred another chance and I moved back in with him and everything was going great we had worked out our problems and we were making it work. Then on July 8th he had a massive heart attack and passed away. I had to move back in with my brother and then I completely lost it and ended up in the psych hospital for awhile. I finally got better and then my step-mother calls me and tells me that my dad has been put on hospice and it terminal. I am still holding it together and am working as a medical assistant in a clinic, I work from 3pm to 11pm and sleep most of the day till it is time to go to work. I work as much as I can to keep my mind off Fred. Towards the end I finally realized that I had always loved him and that I would do crazy things just so that I could hurt him. Before he died he did show me how much he loved me and that he always had and it was me that kept pushing him away and making excuses. Well I will close for now and send this off. Hope your doing well and keep in touch...
elle
I have typed a few of your letters now and wow I can you have a far out sense of humour. It will help you in life to get through the hard times.
Keep writing!
Toni from England
I like the way you see the world too. I live in Australia and I see a lot of similar issues here amongst our Indigenous people. Some of these issues I became aware of as a school girl, of course through our media, and other things didn't become clear to me until I began to study Indigenous Australian issues at university. It appears to me that many of our Aboriginal people aren't as successful as they could, or should be, because they (in my opinion) often serve to hold each other back with small world thinking (and I think this is what you're describing in these people you were speaking with). It is part of traditional Aboriginal culture to support each other and live in a collectivist way, much like how I perceive African Americans once were. Those that survived the colonial slaughter of our settlement must have had to work hard together, much like your ancestors and it's incredibly sad that these once strong, proud groups appear to have in some ways lost their direction and seem to tear each other down more often then they appear to build each other up.
It is a shame that our modern societies have changed these once beautiful practices of taking care of each other and warped them into wanting to keep each other on an even keel at the exclusion of other groups. I see this as a failure in our societies, something precious that we've lost as we've gained a global society.
I think you have a much greater chance of success with the way you view the world than do those who see the world as purely black & white.
Thank you for sharing.
Take Care. Nicki
This is such an incredible post. I love the idea that it is through the choices we make in how we act and react that shapes our reality. It really resonates with me.
It sounds like you also probably had a huge impact on others through the Mindful Living group. Do you still run a group like that?
I've shared some of your posts with others - they're incredible. What else can I do to help enact prison reform? Do you have access to see what bills are in the legislature? Is there one I should support?
Susan