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Year Four, Day 220: Knitting Socks on the Freeway

I am writing a daily blog about my son's prison experience, or as my mom so eloquently phrases it, "His time at the resort". Or as my son's mother-in-law puts it, "Furthering his education!"

This experience is furthering the education of our whole family.  What doesn't kill makes you stronger, right?

I am feeling stronger every day. But I have my moments.

Here is an excerpt from today's post in "13 Months":

(I will probably not publish it.  It is for my son when he has done his time.  Perhaps we will write a book someday. Right now, he needs to survive and thrive!)

Papers, Bitte!

"I did not hear from my son until about 2:30 this afternoon. I am trying to discipline myself to be mindful about my day, and focus on what is at hand rather than let my imagination go wild with what my son is going through.

 We spoke briefly as I got off the bus, on my way to the library to blog before I go teach piano lessons.

 It is such a beautiful, winter day in Portland. The sky is a pale blue. It is chilly and crisp, but still. No arctic wind to chill the bones. Still, as I type this, my heart aches as I remember how much my son loves these kinds of days. I will ask him next time we speak if they are allowed any outside time at Coffee Creek.

 He still has not gotten his prescriptions. So I just wrote a letter to his attorney. I left a voicemail this weekend, but I realize he is very busy. And Andrew is not his immediate concern.  I also informed him that Andrew does not have a sheet with his charges printed. He is really worried about being sent to the next facility without his papers on him. I told his lawyer that the other prisoners look at your charges to see if you committed a sex crime. If you have, you will be tortured.

 This sounds like paranoid thinking, but I have heard about this from several men here on the outside. And Andrew has heard about it on the inside. 

 We need to have his papers in order.

 In the back of my mind, I hear a loud German Gestapo, asking for "Papers, bitte!"
I need to head out to teach students now.  I am going to say a prayer for my son before I breathe in and put myself in the present mode. Into Teacher Zita mode.

I am planning on going to the gym tonight. I have a choir concert, an Advent service, a church service and a piano student recital this week. I need to relieve some stress in order to give my musical best!


Happy Monday! :)

Zita

PS Below are some pictures of my son and I at our farewell breakfast on the day of his sentencing. We went to Biscuits Cafe in Gresham. We cleaned our plates - our family has no problem keeping up our appetites, even in times of stress!





P.P.S. I was talking to my daughter's father last night about my creating housing ideas.  He understands completely. He has converted his van into a camper van and has been living in it comfortably for the last two years.  And what occurred to me is AirBNB and family sleepovers is a good solution right now. I do not know what will be in the future for me. And I cannot afford to keeping coming up with outrageous deposits for apartments that I can barely afford and may not be in long.  If I plan a few AirBNB stays a week, strategically located in the area I am working, I do not have to worry about a deposit, or furniture.  And I can pay in advance a few days or a week.

I had actually considered the camper van scenario a few years ago. But since traffic has increased in Portland, I decided against it.  Walking and busing keep me peaceful.  Lord knows, I can't knit socks on the freeway!

My Prayer Socks - Knitted on the Max!

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