PRISONER EXPRESS

All of us, as prisoners, are tainted. It's as if our humanity had to be left at the prison gate when we entered and we are expected to forget about it until our release. Even then, the disgrace of being and ex-con corrupts our motives in the eyes of almost everyone. The place I make my stand is against the stigma of incarceration and for the right and need of prisoners to reclaim their humanity.

This is where prisoners encounter a fork in the road of life. It's a matter of choice. There is the easy path, you know the one, all of us have slipped on to at times. What could be easier than to live down to the low expectations society has for us? All we have to do is embrace the prevalent user mentality of our peers and attempt to have more game than Parker Brothers.

My choice is the road less traveled. At least there is less traffic when you rise above the negative stereotype and take the bike trail. On the other hand, you can't just give it the gas and go, you have to peddle. Ulterior movies weigh too much, ditch them and travel light; then touch lives wherever the opportunity arises. Admittedly, those situations are rare for prisoners. Just showing kindness and being honest will shock your associates and set you apart. If you know officers expect a negative response from you, and may be trying to instigate one, do the opposite and you rise above their petty expectations.

Last night, I was given the chance to reach out and touch a life. The radio show I listen to on Saturday nights announced there was a little girl in California with terminal brain cancer. All she wants is to get cards and letters from all over the globe. I wrote down the address and then second thoughts set in. You know the ones. I was stereotyping myself. What will her family think of a prisoner writing? Other people can surely do a better job than me. I don't have a card to send. This will cost me money.

In my stuff I found my copy of a project I did with college guild. I had written a children's fantasy story and a prisoner in another state illustrated it. I'm still not sure it was suitable for a girl but I hope so. It is called, "Littlest Hero," and it will surely be unique. In the whole world only a few copies exist. It'll go out in the mail Monday morning with one motive. I hope to make a little girl smile and maybe give her a bit of fun to take her mind off of her problem. I have forwarded her address to my friends outside these walls and done all I can to see she gets her last wish. If any of you are interested in helping to cheer this little lady up the address is: April Reis, 315 Park Avenue, Manteca, CA 95337. It's up to each of you to decide what you wan t to do and the date I'm writing this is April 18, 2005.

Taking time to be part of the world outside our fences requires a change in our perspective. We may be prisoners today but we were humans first and no one can take that away from us. It's possible that my offering, and yours, will be rejected by her parents. If so, that is their right. More than likely they will be too happy to see their little girl smile as she open her mail to care where it comes from. Whatever occurs, my humanity has been reclaimed and it is my right to share it.