[Photo of Rhonda J. Bays with a dark shirt and a watch taken in November 2019[

OCTOBER 2020

*UPDATE*

Hello all! It's been a few years since I wrote last so I barely know where to begin. I suppose with the photograph to the left. That was me taken last November. I finally reached a much healthier weight! I still am overweight but no longer obese. It's been ... 20+ years since I've been down to this. I am obviously very proud of myself. I look and feel younger than my 50 years, I've got around 40 more pounds left to go. Wish me luck!

What have I been doing the past few years? Well, you know, just living the dream! LOL well, first off I took the Culinary Arts course. It's a lot more than just a cooking class, albeit that part was definitely fun. who knew a cold melon soup could be so tasty? Moreover, who knew I could cook? The class also taught the coursework for the Professional Food Manager Certification and 5 certificates recognized by the National Restaurant Association. That's right - the NRA :). Carswell will also keep paying for my food mgr. certificate until I leave. That will be great. I think it may be hard to obtain gainful employment being older, a felon, and a sex offender. These certifications may help me get my foot in the door.

I've also taken a slew of other classes, I've stayed super busy! There is a lot offered here and I like to take advantage of all I can. It's called "programming," I suppose I've been reprogramed taking over 150 classes. There's many exercise classes such as: spinning, step, fit for life, 500 mile walk or run and much more. The educational classes are too many to list on here but they're great. (I sound like I'm trying to sell time shares here! Ugh! Moving on!!)

So much has went on it's hard to choose what to write about. I guess I'll start talking about my brothers. That's right, two male half siblings!! Dad told me about Billy first and sent a photo. I think he bears resemblance to the famous author Stephen King. He has a job in computers and live up North. I was very excited as I always wanted a brother! Then one day Dad was talking about how much his son looked like him and I agreed. He said, "Oh. Not Billy. I'm talking about Eugene. I was flummoxed! I have another brother who is 61. (Billy will be 56 in Feb). He looks just like Dad. It's cool to find out about them. I suppose it's as the cliché goes - when one door closes another opens! Dad assured me there (probably) wasn't any more, LOL. I look forward to meeting them both one day.

[Clipping:]

[Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding - Proverbs 3:5 KJV]

I also found out my grandmother Parsons was not a Parsons at all as she was adopted. Dad didn't know all of this either until about 7-8 years ago. She was a German Jew, I've always known the history on my mom's side but not so much my dad's, I no longer identify as Christian, but Jewish. Not solely because it's in my heritage but mainly because I hold no belief in Jesus, I tried. I really did. I studied the Bible like no other. But I had to discover the truth on my own, because of my family history I didn't have to convert. Now I go to service every Shabbot and I have learned quite a little bit of Hewbrew. By the time I leave here I plan to be fluent. Wish me luck!!!

Next item is my boyfriend. He contacted my through a pen-pal site about 2 years ago. His name is Nick and he's really sweet to me. This certainly isn't the most ideal circumstances to be in but it is what it is. He's handsome, funny, smart, and kind. He wants nothing from me. How ironic that I meet the prefect guy while in prison! He's also good to my dad too. He may call him more than I do. He told me recently one of his favorite sounds is my dad's laughter. Wow! He's a keeper!! I know I still have 8 more years and much can happen in that time. We're just taking it day by day.

There are video visits (like Skype) here now and I've been going nuts emailing and visiting everyone. It's nice to keep in touch. If anyone reading this wants to contact me, just send me your email address and I will add you. It beats the heck out of snail mail.

[Clipping:]

[One Day by Al Coleman

One day
I will walk barefoot on deep pile carpet
Then feet cold tiles on my soles
As perfectly warm water
Dribbles down my body to meet them

I will sink into a soft mattress
More than two inches thick
Rest my head on a feather pillow
At nine am or two pm
Or whenever I want

I will wear red and blues
Blacks and greens
Leather sandals of a woolen cap
Untuck my6 shirt or not
Wear my cap inside

I will eat when I am hungry
Actually chew my food before swallowing
Carry on a conversation
With someone I care about
Or just listen to the silence

I will have knobs on my sink
A seat on my toilet
A window that opens
With glass I can see through
And a door with a handle

One day
I will have all of this

But the one day that matters
May never come
The day when I can look each of you in the eyes
To tell you I am so sorry
And finally be forgiven]

I found this poem in Prisoner Express Magazine. I dedicate it to Nicole. Rhonda

COVID-19. Ugh. Beginning April 1st the again in July we were on FUU lock down to our rooms. We started cut with 2 cases in April and by July there were 540. I won't go into everything we went through but the Ft Worth newspaper called it the house of horrors. My friend Ely died. She was one of the first here to contract it. She was morbidly obese with diabetes. She will be sorely missed. I won't go into details on all of our hardships. I know everyone has been through it--especially out there. People losing their jobs and such, I pray that all those I know stay safe.

[Clipping:]

[You can put sugar on crap, but in the end you won't be left with a brownie.]

Laura and Frankie are doing well. I talk to them as much as possible. I'm very proud of both of them. (They're also both in college)

This was all I can think of to say for now. My plans are to write on here every Sunday.

Best wishes to all.
Rhonda

[Photo of gray cat wearing a yellow straw hat inside of a white basket with a blue/white checkered cloth]