Thursday, October 16, 2014

When I looked at the calendar today, I realized that 12 years ago, I waited for Carole to come visit me for the first time in a federal prison. I was confined in Fort Dix, New Jersey back then. I had served longer than 15 years, but I still had a very long 11 years of imprisonment ahead of me. Nevertheless, Carole and I had built a romance through correspondence, and when she visited me on October 17, 2002, it was the first time that we would meet in a prison visiting room. I remember the entire event as if it just happened. On the night before our first visit, I felt more enthusiastic than a child on Christmas morning. When guards called me name for the visit, I remember walking over with total excitement to hold her in my arms for the first time. I knew that we’d be under intense scrutiny by guards and surveillance cameras that pervade the federal prison system, but I didn’t care. I also knew that with her, I could build a new life. Since that first visit, we’ve come a long way. With Carole’s help, I built a quasi career while incarcerated, and resources we generated allowed her to return to school. She earned her credentials as a registered nurse, and now she is approaching graduation with her master’s degree in nursing. When others ask me what I’m most proud about, without hesitation, I say that I’m most proud of the loving relationship I’ve built with Carole. Despite longer than a decade in prison that separated us from our first night together, we have an exceptionally strong relationship, and I’m grateful.

 

Days since my release from prison: 430

Miles that I ran today: 0

Miles that I ran so far this week: 24

Miles that I’ve run during the month of October: 102.39

Miles that I ran so far in 2014: 1,966.41

Miles that I need to run in order to reach my annual goal of 2,400 miles: 433.59

Miles I’m ahead of schedule to reach my 2,400-mile goal by the end of 2014: 61.11

My weight for today: 168