Recent Comments

Hi Tyrone,

Sorry for taking a couple of weeks to reply to you - I have been very busy, which makes me feel guilty as the people I owe replies to don't have the opportunity to be busy!

I think you have a real skill for writing - do you just write your thoughts or have you written creatively?

I know it can be so hard to have to find your own way in life and teach yourself. It's even harder if you have fewer opportunities. Anyone that can still manage it under tough circumstances is to be admired.

All the best,

Elizabeth-Anne

Thanks for your reply - I find a lot of this stuff hard to understand, having not been brought up with any sort of knowledge of religion, so I really appreciate you sharing your thoughts and interpretation.

Best wishes,
Elizabeth-Anne

Michael,

I'm really flattered to get this amazing reply, to think that even a little I might have sparked some of the thoughts in this letter. You're right that you cannot change people's minds about the past, all you can do is change the future.

Hi Jesse - I'm glad you're still writing. It's interesting to hear about your inner journey - thanks for sharing! I can relate to the experience of needing a life raft in the midst of desperate times. Personally I "found religion" (so to speak), but I also believe that faith is a gift that comes from beyond us, not something we can give to ourselves or earn in some way. I think it's very important to keep seeking truth no matter what and it sounds like you do that! I'm glad to hear you've found more peace.

Hi Trevin - I'm glad you shared more of your story. It must have been confusing to go through all of that when you were so young. I'm curious why you included the quote about violence at the end? Anyway, I'm looking forward to reading more. Take care!

Thanks for writing! I finished the transcription for your post.

You haven't mentioned her since that I've seen, so I thought you might like to know that Malala - the young girl shot for opposing the Taliban - is doing incredibly well and I believe out of hospital now.

You know what? I don't think I have. Until now, I haven't really thought about it. The reason? Because I kept up with the young lady in question and her friends over the years. I see the damage it did not just to her but to the ones around her.

I'm pretty sure my lack of forgiveness on your part is my problem at this point, not yours. You seem to have made a sincere request for it, and I am not quite mature enough to grant it. That's really not your issue, though. It's mine.

Perhaps I'm one of the people affected, too.

Hey Man, Zap has been my "moniker" as you call it since 1977. It is from when the arcades first came out and you could only use three letters in your high score name on games. And I've stuck with it ever since. Pretty funny shit I guess. I have had a great life as far as my kid's are concerned, other than not having a great education and having to do construction for 23 years. But the kids are alright as the Who would say. Denna graduated High School in 2009 and is now a piercing artist, but she is so artistic that she may do many thing's. Rick Jr. is in High School and a certified genius. So he loves school and always has and is doing great. He has been honor his whole life, other than a couple semesters. And Tina has been in retail, Walmart for the last 8 years and before that she was with the union working at Albertson's. I just got back actually from riding a bus from here in Southern Cal. to Mich. and then I drove back solo, it was a blast! She is doing ok, but almost 70 years old a little overweight and because of the weight has diabetes. I am trying to bring her back here to live and help me start a little second hand furniture and vintage toy store. Right now I am working from home and sell old 60's and 70's Hot Wheels and any old toys or whatever. I may go back to doing sheet metal if the store doesn't work out though. I found you because I had a newspaper clipping of you from when you were in court and stabbed your attorney I believe, that was hanging up and on top of the fridge, etc... and I would see it and wonder what happened after that day. So when I started using the computer, after a couple years I started to search for you and finally found you. How close are you to Riverside? Can you have visitors? I will write more soon, now that I think I can figure out how to do it. Take care man and tell me a little about your sentence next time. And I did look at a lot of your writings and correspondence, sounds like you are a good man. Good luck brother and remember that Tina and I still love you and hope for the best for you and your loved ones. Rik... Zap, bitch!

Hi Nicholas - play through the pain :) Glad to hear you've been able to play so much good stuff and that you have got your chapel privileges back. You being banned from it sounds like a strange situation? It must have been terrible when your friend/acquaintance died like that, and I'm guessing emotions were running high for a lot of people. I hope things stay more positive!

Hi Shawn - thanks for sharing your essay; I found it very interesting. I'm not super familiar with the 12 steps, so I'm curious as to why you say, "forgiveness is NOT an option, not now, not ever, and is something to be avoided at all costs". Is it because the person working the steps should not EXPECT forgiveness, or because you think the family members could never forgive the person? Or maybe a third meaning? Just curious. Of course we have no control over someone else's forgiveness, we can only do our part to make amends. But in the long run I think forgiving someone who has wronged you is something you do for yourself more so than the other person - and if you don't do it you are hurting yourself the most. So I like to think it's always a possibility...