Christmas Dinner
September 7, 2007 - 11:00pm
The day started out with excitement and anxiety. I hadn’t seen J-- in seven months. Had he grown? What did he look like? How much did he weight? Would he be as anxious as I was?
These questions rushed through my head like a stream of water, but then I was told that the notarized document necessary to allow J-- to visit hadn’t arrived and I felt extremely disappointed: my own flesh and blood, so close, yet so far way.
I had to act fast and knew that the counselor for the Outside In program was the man to see, partly because he wore a wedding band, and seemed family-oriented.
I knocked on his door and got a friendly welcome. He listened to my dilemma and after a long pause asked a few uncomfortable questions: Is your son a victim of your crime? Does his mother want you to see him? The answers were no, he isn’t and yes, she does, and so he allowed me to call her. No answer. I was at a dead end. The dinner was a 7 p.m. and there just wasn’t any paperwork. I tried to accept it and not think about it.
At 2 p.m. I was called to Program Services. Thanks to the efforts of the Outside In counselor my son was being inputted into the computer system and was okayed to attend the Christmas dinner after all. What a wonderful man! And WOW! Now I was back to being excited.
I spotted J-- from a distance as he looked around observing and I imagined what was on his mind: I hope I look cool and my shirt’s okay. I haven’t seen my dad in 6 or 7 months. I’ve almost forgotten what he looks like and this place is, well, scary. Where are the bars and cells? It’s different from what I imagined.
J- is 15 years old. He’s got dark brown hair just past shoulder length—down to his brow in the front. He must weigh 130-135 lbs. at approximately 5’5”. Slender yet muscular. He came directly at me, no hesitation. He hugged me and kissed my cheek just as he normally does, which was such a relief.
That night we enjoyed two hours of a real Christmas dinner with relaxed staff members, including one of my favorites, and the Superintendent. What a great lifetime memory: the pictures, petting animals, desserts, gifts and smiles.
The visit was truly healthy for my son. He saw that I am quite all right and the same dad he has always known. This was the most important day of my incarceration.
RG is in prison in Oregon.
These questions rushed through my head like a stream of water, but then I was told that the notarized document necessary to allow J-- to visit hadn’t arrived and I felt extremely disappointed: my own flesh and blood, so close, yet so far way.
I had to act fast and knew that the counselor for the Outside In program was the man to see, partly because he wore a wedding band, and seemed family-oriented.
I knocked on his door and got a friendly welcome. He listened to my dilemma and after a long pause asked a few uncomfortable questions: Is your son a victim of your crime? Does his mother want you to see him? The answers were no, he isn’t and yes, she does, and so he allowed me to call her. No answer. I was at a dead end. The dinner was a 7 p.m. and there just wasn’t any paperwork. I tried to accept it and not think about it.
At 2 p.m. I was called to Program Services. Thanks to the efforts of the Outside In counselor my son was being inputted into the computer system and was okayed to attend the Christmas dinner after all. What a wonderful man! And WOW! Now I was back to being excited.
I spotted J-- from a distance as he looked around observing and I imagined what was on his mind: I hope I look cool and my shirt’s okay. I haven’t seen my dad in 6 or 7 months. I’ve almost forgotten what he looks like and this place is, well, scary. Where are the bars and cells? It’s different from what I imagined.
J- is 15 years old. He’s got dark brown hair just past shoulder length—down to his brow in the front. He must weigh 130-135 lbs. at approximately 5’5”. Slender yet muscular. He came directly at me, no hesitation. He hugged me and kissed my cheek just as he normally does, which was such a relief.
That night we enjoyed two hours of a real Christmas dinner with relaxed staff members, including one of my favorites, and the Superintendent. What a great lifetime memory: the pictures, petting animals, desserts, gifts and smiles.
The visit was truly healthy for my son. He saw that I am quite all right and the same dad he has always known. This was the most important day of my incarceration.
RG is in prison in Oregon.
