Feb. 10, 2015

Comment Response

From Prison Dad by Robert Pezzeca (author's profile)
This post is in reply to comments on:  Happy Birthday Gram (Ti Amo Nonna) thumbnail
Happy Birthday Gram (Ti Amo Nonna)
(Aug. 23, 2014)

Transcription

Reply ID: 8te2

1/18/2015: 7:00 pm: Watching "The Fighter" on TV

Dear Dharip,

Hi, I received your comment that you posted and I wanted to thank you for them. I've seen this movie multiple times, I like it because it is a true story, so I can write while it's one. It's a boxing movie with Mark Wahlburg from 2010. Anyway, I had no idea you were from the U.K. I once had a female friend from England. She lived in Nottingham. We were friends for awhile and I had grown to care for this woman. But I made the mistake of lying to her about why I was in prison. Not realizing how easy it is for someone to look up the reason I am in here. Needless to say, I lost her in my life but it taught me to be honest about why I'm here. I had a friend in the last prison I was at for 11 years, Subi, he was also Indian and had a lot of family in the U.K. We shortened his name and called him Subi because his name was like 13 letters long and no one could get it right.
I did have some really memorable family get together's as a kid, they are some of the memories I truly cherish. My mom continues her fight against A.M.L. She had chemo last week and yesterday she had a blood transfusion and needed platelets. All the money they spend on cancer drugs and cures, but the survival rate for A.M.L. is not good. So, all I can do is worry my brains out and pray for my moms healing to begin. I cannot imagine life without her, and frankly, I don't want to. There is no substitute for a mom. You get one and that's it. If you're lucky, you get someone who treats you like a son but that's still not the same.
You said you were a student, what do you study? Please tell me you're going to be a doctor and find a cure for cancer. If so, I'll tell you now, please hurry it up (: I hope someone does find a cure, and soon. I'm not ashamed to admit that I love my mom and we are very close. Well, I have to go. We have to sign up a day in advance for a shower time and my time is in about 5 minutes. So you take care and it was nice hearing from you.
Hope you can still find time to keep reading. God Bless, Ciao

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Replies (5) Replies feed

dharip Posted 8 years, 9 months ago. ✓ Mailed 8 years, 9 months ago   Favorite
Dear Robert,

Apologies again for such a delayed response. Just took a look at the date when you wrote last and can't believe it was five months ago! Hope you've been keeping well in all that time and that your mom's doing better.

I kept on telling myself that I'd watch The Fighter before I replied to you, which I have done now, but I probably should have just replied. I can imagine how frustrating waiting for correspondence can be when there is not much else to do. I quite enjoyed the start of the movie with the struggle that Wahlberg's character has to go through as well as hearing about the relationship with his brother and the difficulties that he has as well. I thought in the end though it was a bit triumphalist and it seemed like that final win came too easily and everything was unrealistically fixed all of a sudden. I'd recommend another more recent Wahlberg movie called The Gambler. There's much deeper despair and perseverance in that film and in the end it's about finding escape and peace rather than triumph.

Funnily enough I too live near Nottingham like your old friend. I live in the same county as the city of Nottingham (in a town called Mansfield) and even went to school there. You're right about Indian names haha. Some can be so long! One of the longest one's I've heard of is the former cricketer called VVS Laxman - full name Vangipurapu Venkata Sai Laxman.

I'm studying for a BA in Anthropology and Law in London and have just finished my second year. Maybe one day I could help your case. Can't imagine the difficulties of a life where such basc things as showering are on a rota.

All the best,

Hari (dharip)

Robert Pezzeca Posted 8 years, 5 months ago.   Favorite
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dharip Posted 8 years, 3 months ago. ✓ Mailed 7 years, 12 months ago   Favorite
Dear Robert,

Sorry again for the long gap between messages - I only got your last reply in October even though it had been sent in July. I hope your Mom got the extra support you wanted for her. It's a really difficult thing to go through and I'm sure it would make a world of difference for her to have someone to explain her treatment so she can understand it and feel that bit more in control. Both my parents are doctors so I've heard a lot about how important it is to really listen carefully to the patient.

I'm glad to hear that you've found an opportunity to experience some nature through feeding the birds. It must be nice to have something you can take responsibility over and care for no matter how small. Do you get much of a chance to read or do work or is exercise the only activity?

I've been in touch with your brother Justin and he says that I could help you out a bit more by sending a few bucks so you can buy some basics like better toothpaste and soap so I'll do that in the next few weeks.

Loved the dog photos, really cute! When did you have the pictures taken? Hope you get some better stuff on TV and God willing I'll be in touch again sooner.

Take care and hope the New Year brings good things,

Hari (December 31st 2015)

Robert Pezzeca Posted 7 years, 11 months ago.   Favorite
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meaganbrown2524 Posted 7 years, 11 months ago. ✓ Mailed 7 years, 11 months ago   Favorite
Thanks for writing! I finished the transcription for your post.

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