Monday, December 22, 2008
Another Day Closer To Home
It's 8:00 P.M. Monday, the 22nd. I'm writing from the prison library while listening to inmates sing Christmas carols in the adjacent music room. The last few days have felt like a few weeks. I'm still coming to terms with the passing of my dog, Honey. I'm adhering to my daily routine, even though I'm frantically going through the motions. Today I ran, wrote, wept, wrote several holiday cards and called home. I have a wonderful family. My family is strong, supportive and comforting. No man could ask for more.
I'm also thankful to have many wonderful friends. Their support has helped me during this tough time. I look forward to the day where I can talk to my friends and family freely. 300 phone minutes a month are not enough to stay in contact with everyone. As of today, I only have 45 phone minutes remaining and I must use them wisely if I'm to make it through the month. Through eight months I continue to manage my minutes poorly. Sometimes I get on the phone and I don't want to get off. I've accepted that effectively managing my monthly minutes is a battle I may never win.
Justin Paperny
