Finally, after over a year on parole, I reunited with my son, Andrew. Sure, I would have loved to have spent all those years with him, but I’m grateful for what I’ve Got. He’s a handsome, intelligent, twenty-one year old man with a wonderful fiancee and even more wonderful children… my grandbabies.

He’s at that point in his life that we’ve all went through–not quite sure what the hell to do with the rest of his life. I know I don’t really have the right to put my two cents in this late in his life, but I still do. Since he loves video games and computers, just like his old man, I’m doing my best to steer him into my line of work–computer programming and web design. Good Lord willing, he’ll take my wisdom and experience and assistance.

Though I’m still on parole and uncertain of the future, there is one thing I do know. My life is a lot better than it was last year and a hell of a lot better than the years before that.

Every day I thank God for what I have and fight the temptation to whine about things I don’t have. There’s too much whining in this world already and for those of us who’ve spent any real time in the joint, we know that there’s even more whining in there. So let’s all stay positive and enjoy whatever freedoms we have. Our brothers behind the fence have none.