They say that absence makes the heart grow fonder but this has convinced me that your love endures with the same intensity whether you are 5 feet apart or 5 miles. The media tries to dehumanize and criminalize those who are incarcerated and yet when you first walk into a prison you do not leave your emotions and humanity on the other side of the gate. Your beautiful writing reminds us all of your humanity and even more so it reminds us that no human was made to live caged. I hope you will get to see your loved ones soon, and get to hold them while you get to breath the free air that is everyone's birthright. I think it would impact many readers, including myself, if you expressed to us your opinions on what it is like to only see the outside world continue moving through a window or fence.
You are more than your number, I hope you always remember that. I am so inspired by the fact that you have found your weapon in writing. Censorship is bullshit. Your writing, is not. Keep living, keep writing, keep keeping on. Love and Light, Maya
This is absolutely stunning. Reading this, my heart ached for your situation. "Steeper than nineteen years of ink shy of life Bleeding from letters sent faithfully With answers seldomly received This story was conceived from my scars Emotions are razor wired and barbed" These words spoke to me especially. They reached into my soul and tore out emotions I had forgot to feel. Thank you for your beautiful words. This poem, and all your others. You are a true talent and your work should never be forgotten or looked past- your mind is a true beauty- never forget that. Never take the neurons in your skull for granted- for no number of days behind bars can ever lessen the yearning for life you possess. Thank you. Thank you for staying strong and taking value in your work. Love and Light, Maya
This is gorgeous. I can feel the power and intensity in your words and in the way you wrote them. I hope that you get to Jasmyn, or find another person who makes you feel even more in love. Do not give up on love. Hold onto the idea of infatuation and adoration and never let go. Love and Light, Maya
Hello Marty, Just wanted to say, you are quite talented and I enjoyed your writings. I was in touch with someone via fb about corresponding with you. I will get a letter mailed soon. Please continue your writings. Take care. Kelly
Thanks for sharing those lovely family memories from your childhood. I remember when I was a kid I did something similar with my gifts before Christmas. I couldn't wait, so I asked my Grandpa if I could peek at my gifts. He laughed and said, "Sure." So I carefully opened them and re-wrapped them. But when Christmas Day actually rolled around it was a bit of a letdown because I knew what I was getting already. I guess the disappointment stuck with me because I didn't do that ever again.
As far as ice cream flavors go, my personal favorite is Tin Roof. But cake is my favorite dessert food of all time. If I could only pick one sweet to enjoy for the rest of my life, cake would be it.
I think I read about the organization that has inmates train puppies for veterans - Puppies Behind Bars, is it? That's good work and while it's too bad the pup was sleeping it's good to hear you guys will be seeing 3 more in a month. We have a 2.5 year old Husky and while he was hell on wheels as a young puppy, now he's the perfect dog. He's so well-behaved and loves everyone. He gets frustrated if other dogs he sees on his walks don't stop to play with him and barks at them.
So sorry to hear about your friend Paul and your Aunt Cindy's friend. Thank you for sharing the news so that more people can hear about them and know who they are. The mother of a friend of mine had cancer a few years ago but now she's in remission. A family member who went through some hard times was diagnosed with cancer on top of everything else last year and went through chemo - now she's in remission, too. Hopefully whatever good vibes and prayers that helped them can help your friend Paul, too. Sending good vibes. Take care.
Hey there, glad you had the opportunity to take some meditation classes! Have you found the practices to be helpful? I'm sorry to hear the other prisoners were inappropriate to the instructor. How rude! Makes you wonder if they will continue classes like that in the future. It sucks they are possibly ruining it for everyone.
Yes, stay peaceful and don't fight. It sounds like you have some blessings to be grateful for in your current dorm with the TV's. How was your shared Xmas meal?
Rob - just had to add my voice that the phone calls are indeed a racket! It is worst in the county jails. We were paying $7.50 for a 15 minute call. Adds up soooo fast. It's better at the prison, about half that, but still cost prohibitive for so many.
Your daughter doesn't understand the gravity of her request to put you in the hole. Send her good energy and love. I will do the same.
Rob - It cut me off on my other reply so thought I would bop over here and make sure I answered all the questions you asked. I see you wrote a lot of posts around Christmas time - very good writing! You do a great job of painting the picture of what it is really like in there. I'm sorry that's your reality.
I am glad you enjoyed the printouts, and that you hadn't received them before. I tried to look up the family members you mentioned and didn't have any luck. There are a couple more sites I can try, which I will do later. I want to get this finished before the deadline. They say they will mail the responses to you tomorrow.
You asked if my friend T. has kids, yes she does. Two girls, age 9 and 15. It is such a sad situation for all of them. She got to speak to them at Xmas for the first time in a year. Their dad is not keen on them having contact. She also colored some beautiful pictures for them, and I put them in frames and wrapped them up for the girls for Xmas. I found the dad did let them have them. T's mom - their grandma - sent me a pic of them holding the framed coloring pages. Heartbreaking.
Your Christmas posts with the memories were really good. Keep that kind of stuff alive in your heart and mind. You asked what our favorite gifts were. Have you heard of the Amazon Echo - otherwise known as Alexa? It is a little hockey puck shaped thing that you can talk to. It accesses the internet and can answer questions, play music, order things for you, all sorts of things. The voice that talks back is named Alexa (it's a female voice). Well, I got one and I love this thing! It is so useful.
I read what you wrote about the puppy dogs. I'm a huge dog lover too. We have two big dogs - Red and Daisy. Red is a registered therapy dog and I take him to an adult day care center to visit the guests there. Dogs are so special and I'm a big fan of the prison dog training programs! Get yourself some puppy love anytime you can - it's magical!
Better close for now, I can see I am running out of space again.
RSS
Love and Light,
Maya
"Steeper than nineteen years of ink shy of life
Bleeding from letters sent faithfully
With answers seldomly received
This story was conceived from my scars
Emotions are razor wired and barbed"
These words spoke to me especially. They reached into my soul and tore out emotions I had forgot to feel. Thank you for your beautiful words. This poem, and all your others. You are a true talent and your work should never be forgotten or looked past- your mind is a true beauty- never forget that. Never take the neurons in your skull for granted- for no number of days behind bars can ever lessen the yearning for life you possess. Thank you. Thank you for staying strong and taking value in your work.
Love and Light,
Maya
Love and Light,
Maya
Just wanted to say, you are quite talented and I enjoyed your writings. I was in touch with someone via fb about corresponding with you. I will get a letter mailed soon. Please continue your writings. Take care.
Kelly
As far as ice cream flavors go, my personal favorite is Tin Roof. But cake is my favorite dessert food of all time. If I could only pick one sweet to enjoy for the rest of my life, cake would be it.
I think I read about the organization that has inmates train puppies for veterans - Puppies Behind Bars, is it? That's good work and while it's too bad the pup was sleeping it's good to hear you guys will be seeing 3 more in a month. We have a 2.5 year old Husky and while he was hell on wheels as a young puppy, now he's the perfect dog. He's so well-behaved and loves everyone. He gets frustrated if other dogs he sees on his walks don't stop to play with him and barks at them.
So sorry to hear about your friend Paul and your Aunt Cindy's friend. Thank you for sharing the news so that more people can hear about them and know who they are. The mother of a friend of mine had cancer a few years ago but now she's in remission. A family member who went through some hard times was diagnosed with cancer on top of everything else last year and went through chemo - now she's in remission, too. Hopefully whatever good vibes and prayers that helped them can help your friend Paul, too. Sending good vibes. Take care.
Yes, stay peaceful and don't fight. It sounds like you have some blessings to be grateful for in your current dorm with the TV's. How was your shared Xmas meal?
Hang in there -
j.c.
Your daughter doesn't understand the gravity of her request to put you in the hole. Send her good energy and love. I will do the same.
Hang in there,
j.c.
Rob -
It cut me off on my other reply so thought I would bop over here and make sure I answered all the questions you asked. I see you wrote a lot of posts around Christmas time - very good writing! You do a great job of painting the picture of what it is really like in there. I'm sorry that's your reality.
I am glad you enjoyed the printouts, and that you hadn't received them before. I tried to look up the family members you mentioned and didn't have any luck. There are a couple more sites I can try, which I will do later. I want to get this finished before the deadline. They say they will mail the responses to you tomorrow.
You asked if my friend T. has kids, yes she does. Two girls, age 9 and 15. It is such a sad situation for all of them. She got to speak to them at Xmas for the first time in a year. Their dad is not keen on them having contact. She also colored some beautiful pictures for them, and I put them in frames and wrapped them up for the girls for Xmas. I found the dad did let them have them. T's mom - their grandma - sent me a pic of them holding the framed coloring pages. Heartbreaking.
Your Christmas posts with the memories were really good. Keep that kind of stuff alive in your heart and mind. You asked what our favorite gifts were. Have you heard of the Amazon Echo - otherwise known as Alexa? It is a little hockey puck shaped thing that you can talk to. It accesses the internet and can answer questions, play music, order things for you, all sorts of things. The voice that talks back is named Alexa (it's a female voice). Well, I got one and I love this thing! It is so useful.
I read what you wrote about the puppy dogs. I'm a huge dog lover too. We have two big dogs - Red and Daisy. Red is a registered therapy dog and I take him to an adult day care center to visit the guests there. Dogs are so special and I'm a big fan of the prison dog training programs! Get yourself some puppy love anytime you can - it's magical!
Better close for now, I can see I am running out of space again.
Peace - j.c.