A letter from Bryan - written 10/13 thru 10/16

The hunger strike ended on Thursday, 10/13.  I just got a letter from Bryan today written 10/13 thru 10/16 and mailed Monday.  Delivered in 4 days!

He has this message for everyone:

Please let it be known out there how deeply appreciative everyone is.    Without all the pressure y'all put on Sacramento and the overwhelming way in which everyone very publicly rejected CDCr's propaganda of "worst of the worst" and demanded that we were/are much more than the crimes we've been convicted of or prison gang labels, this never would've been achieved.

I think that's even fundamentally changed the way even many of us in here see ourselves now.  We've all collectively shattered 30-35 years of CDCr status quo in 3 months.  We should be proud of that.  Not necessarily with the material gains (though it/they definitely make SHU life better) but proud of truly exposing the inherently wrong and unjust policies of how gang validation is implemented, maintained and ultimately abused by way of keeping men forever housed in solitary confinement.

Other things Bryan shared in the letter:

He lost 35 lbs and was 145 lbs at the lowest.

He is doing well, he said one man he knew of was actually hospitalized "due to his labs being so out of whack." (blood tests)

As of the 16th, they are all medically released so he said they will take the bus back to PB together.  He expects to be at PB this week, by the time I got this letter.

From the sounds of his letter,  PB SHU guys think the ASU (administrative segregation unit) at Corcoran was like a vacation (relatively).  One must remember that Bryan has been in solitary confinement for 16 years, only leaving the windowless cement cell to go to a slightly larger cement room with a cover over it to "exercise".  Always alone, never experiencing the grass, birds, or the sun directly.  16 years!

While at Corcoran ASU for medical supervision and treatment, Bryan and the men from the Pelican Bay SHU had a chance to experience things they haven't for decades.  For instance, rather than a cement space to exercise, they went to "yard" in wire cages similar to dog kennels.  They each had their own cage (with a toilet in it!) and each cage was separated by 2-3 feet so they could SEE each other.. to quote Bryan...

"Going out there was pure BLISS, Julie.  Three straight hours of sun in 85 to 90 degree clear Central Valley farm land weather.  My buddy was out there a few cages down and I don't think we stopped smiling one time.  I have no doubt that as we stood there in our boxers soaking up the sun chatting about how fantastic it was and how cool it would be to do our time here, that ALL of our neighbors in the other cages think we're zip damn nuts."

Geesh, you think he was writing from Acapulco.  I guess it's all relative.

He said he wished he could stay at Corcoran... "They run this ASU with a lot of professionalism and don't seem to carry that weird disdainful attitude that seems ever present at PBSP.  Everyone just seems like they're simply doing their job... minus that "you're an animal" edge.

Anyway, that's the Bryan report!  

Julie

He leads by example

My heart is so full.  After experiencing a spiritual or personal milestone, I must retreat to a quiet place and process all that has happened.  

To sit quietly with the monumental reality.          

To allow the joy of the moment to soak into my soul.    

To pray and express my gratitude to the Eternal Source of Love. 

Thursday, I needed to reflect upon why things unfolded as they did.  What was it about the choice of a hunger strike that made this amazing change actually happen?  Why was I drawn so strongly to accompany Bryan on this journey?  Why was it so important to me to be present to him, to be a witness of his humanity and sacrifice as he put his life on the line for the common good?

It is because Bryan exemplifies spiritual humility and therefore embodies spiritual power.

Political power is the power to influence others through coercion.  It is the power to hire and fire, to punish, to imprison, even to kill.  Or to threaten such things.  Political power has nothing to do with wisdom or benevolence.  It resides solely in money or position.  This is why it is often referred to as temporal power, because these things are temporary.  They can be stripped away overnight.

Spiritual power is the power to influence others through one's own being -- by example, by kindness, by humor, by wisdom and love.  It is exercised at least as often by the poor as the wealthy, by the lowly as the high and mighty.  Indeed, its hallmark is humility.  The more spiritually powerful people become, the more aware they are that their power is a gift from God and has little, if anything, to do with their achievements -- that it is not theirs, but God's power acting through them.  And usually they are surprised by the extent of their influence for the good.

                                                               ~ M. Scott Peck,  A World Waiting to be Born

Political power is not inherently bad, it is just temporary; it can be given, it can be taken away.  Political power is a matter of externals and spiritual power a matter of what is within.  Spiritual power it can never be taken away.  

This is why CDCR moved the 11 representatives, their 2 cellies and Bryan to Ad Seg.  The representatives are examples of spiritual humility and power and they also hold political power, bestowed upon then by the men who chose them as representatives.  It was important for CDCR to separate them from the others, to cut off that tie.

But why Bryan?  Bryan is not a representative, he has no political power.  However, he is the embodiment of humility, commitment and willingness to sacrifice.  It was his ability to lead by example that made him so dangerous to CDCR.  And it was important that he also be separated from the others.  I don't know if CDCR knew why they needed to separate him from the men, but I did.  I knew exactly why he was moved to AdSeg, he possesses the ability to influence because he has spiritual power.

People are drawn to those who are like Bryan, it is his pure example that draws us to him.  Bryan doesn't use the construct of God to express his spirituality, I do.  Nevertheless, what I saw in him is a universal truth.  I was drawn to be with him and ease his suffering in any way I could from behind glass and in letters.  And in being present, I was a witness to all that I have described above...what a blessing.  Thursday, I witnessed a miracle.  Through out this entire hunger strike, we were all witnesses to a miracle. 

oOo

The Hunger Strike is over, read the press release cross posted here.

For Bryan and the men at Pelican Bay SHU, the hunger strike is over, but a few other prisons will continue their hunger strike for reasons related to their particular institution.....

I spoke with Bryan's counselor at Corcoran, Mr. Gonzales.  He said Bryan is doing well and that he will tell Bryan I have checked in and know what is going on.  He said Bryan is fine at this time. More on this later, but for now I'll let you read the press release just issued and cross posted from our Prisoner Hunger Strike Coalition  -- http://prisonerhungerstrikesolidarity.wordpress.com/ 

Hunger Strikers at Pelican Bay End Strike After Nearly 3 Weeks, Strike Continues at Other Prisons

Posted on October 13, 2011 by prisonerhungerstrikesolidarity
 

Mediators who met with hunger strike representatives at Pelican Bay, one of whom had been transferred to Corcoran due to the strike, confirm that prisoners there have decided to stop their hunger strike after nearly 3 weeks. The prisoners have cited a memo from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) detailing a comprehensive review of every Security Housing Unit (SHU) prisoner in California whose SHU sentence is related to gang validation. The review will evaluate the prisoners’ gang validation under new criteria and could start as early as the beginning of next year. “This is something the prisoners have been asking for and it is the first significant step we’ve seen from the CDCR to address the hunger strikers’ demands,” says Carol Strickman, a lawyer with Legal Services for Prisoners with Children, “But as you know, the proof is in the pudding. We’ll see if the CDCR keeps its word regarding this new process.”

The mediation team stated that while the memo indicates statewide changes in the gang validation process for SHU prisoners, the CDCR did not address the status of hunger strikers at Calipatria or Salinas Valley prisons, who are not SHU prisoners. All sources say that at this point, these prisoners will continue to refuse food and stand behind the 5 core demands for all prisoners in California. A recent letter from a prisoner at Calipatria states “Men have…placed their lives on the line in order to put a stoppage to all these injustices we are subjected to day in and day out. People would rather die than continue living under their current conditions. …It is a privilege, an honor to be a part of the struggle, to be a part of history for the betterment of all those inside these cement walls… I will go as far as my body allows me to go.”

Gang validation is a practice that the CDCR uses throughout California prisons.  Hundreds of prisoners who have been validated at Calipatria have been held in Adminstrative Segregation (Ad-Seg) for as long as four years, awaiting transfer to Pelican Bay.

**** 

Where's Bryan??? He has been moved, *** UPDATE 10-13-11 - Corcoran Prison

Knowing other family members who have loved ones in prison is a blessing.  To keep connections strong, after I check emails, I usually followup with phone calls to coalition members and then family members.  Of course, many of the most informed and productive coalition members are family members.

Today, when I was on one of these calls, I was able to determine that one of the representatives who was in ASU (Administrative Segregation) with Bryan has been moved....or I should say "on the move".  Confirmed with PBSP Public Information Officer Lt. Chris Acosta by the prisoner's wife, this man was on his way to a location/facility for "high level care".  The thought immediately hit me, "Is Bryan being moved?"

To determine the location of any inmate in CDCR, I go to the "Inmate Locator Page" and enter the person's CDCR number or last name.  Then the information pops up like so....I have done an example with the name "Carpenter"

Name	CDCR #	Age	Admission Date	Current Location	Map Link
CARPENTER, ALBERT VAUGHN	AC5074	52	03/12/2010	San Quentin	Directions
CARPENTER, ANTONIO DANTE	AH4539	25	05/25/2011	San Quentin	Directions
CARPENTER, BARRY WAYNE	F08840	30	01/10/2006	Deuel	Directions
CARPENTER, CHAD MICHAEL	F13094	33	01/23/2006	Chino	Directions
CARPENTER, CHAD THOMAS	G33910	23	09/26/2008	Tehachapi	Directions
CARPENTER, CHARLES LOREN	V08580	41	10/02/2003	Ironwood	Directions
CARPENTER, CHARLETTE DENISE	X19911	26	08/10/2006	Valley State Prison	Directions
CARPENTER, COREY LANCE	E92898	39	04/16/1991	Salinas Valley	Directions
CARPENTER, CURT CARY	H76137	44	05/07/1993	Susanville	Directions

The inmate locator said Bryan was still at Pelican Bay.

Being familiar with the system means there are many legitimate ways to get information.  For instance, after talking to a second family member who has someone in ASU being moved, I tried to call Acosta to find out about Bryan.  I couldn't get through to Acosta and the inmate locator said Bryan was still at Pelican Bay.  So I called visiting to try to set up a visit with Bryan this weekend, as is my right as an approved visitor.  I was told that because he was a hunger striker, all visits would be denied until he began eating.  When I inquired whether the denial of visits was due to not eating or being in ASU, this CO looked that up and determined that "he is no longer housed there" -- clarifying that he was no longer at Pelican Bay at all.  When I told her that the inmate locator showed him at PB, she said the website takes a while to catch up.

OK, so I'm doing the math...three of the prisoners moved from the SHU to ASU are now on the move again.  About this point (day 15) in the July HS, CDCR moved the most physically compromised to Corcoran prison, where there is an accredited hospital.  They said it was because some of the older/sicker hunger strikers were failing, and they decided to move those who had lost 30 lbs or more.   Last time, Bryan lost 29 lbs, so he didn't go.

Here's how I think this is playing out, and this is speculation on my part, but it is the "put two and two together" reasoning that serves me so well....

Pelican Bay only has an infirmary, and feeding by nasal tube to the stomach is a procedure that can't be done there....but it can be done at the hospital section in Corcoran.  I believe that CDCR plans to throw out the explicit instructions of the men NOT to receive artificial nutrition (known as force feeding when it is done against your will) and/or get a court order allowing them to override the Advance Directives the men signed refusing said measure.  There are several layers of CDCR policy that all contradict each other and  legal  injunctions can be obtained, but the bottom line --- we are coming to the situation that was averted last hunger strike.....men, including Bryan, are going "to the tube".

I cannot stress enough how terrified Bryan is of force feeding, even more than death.  In visit, he told me that the legal right to invade his body under the ruse of "force feeding" allows the opportunity for incredible torture.  Personally, I have two friends who had a tube put down their nose for medical purposes and even with the most gentle approach, it was horrible and painful...imagine if a mean-spirited,  "let's break this prison hunger strike" application of this technique were used!   Under prison force feeding protocol, they "get the tube", are fed, unhooked, then chained to a restraining chair so they won't vomit.  After a period of time, they are thrown back in their cells... only to be fed again every three days.  That's a lot of cramming tubes into their already fragile bodies.
 
It is lose/lose... torture by the feeding tube, or death from starvation. Wouldn't it be better for CDCR to just address the reasonable demands of the men?  To follow through on the promises made which led to the suspension of the hunger strike in July?

This is how Bryan told me things would evolve. He said, "we have to 'get to the tube' against our will or die before it will disturb politicians and the general pubic enough to support us"

This next development it isn't good, but it is how it must be before CDCR will budge from their "no negotiations" position.

A letter from Bryan - written Oct. 1 from AdSeg

Yesterday, I got a letter from Bryan written on October 1, which was day 6 of the hunger strike.  I will type it out here so it is easy to read...he writes so small.  I put an scanned image below.
 
Sat 10-1-11
Julie,
 
First of all I send you my utmost love & respect.  Obviously I have no idea if you will even receive this and will be shocked if you actually do.  Thursday they came to my cell around 10:00 am and told me I had an interview concerning the hunger strike.  Instead, I was led out into the hallway along with 4 other prisoners from my block and escorted out of SHU over to ASU.  I was then placed into an empty cell with 2 blankets, 2 sheets, some filthy worn out ASU laundry and a fish kit (tooth powder/brush, cleanser, forms, 3 pieces of blank paper & 3 blank envelopes.)  Half of which is/was missing.  They brought over all 11 representatives, 2 of their cellies and me.

This is blatant retaliation for our participation in a peaceful, constitutionally protected, protest.  We have now been here for 3 days completely isolated in these empty cells.  We have received no paperwork, have not gone to committee in the required 72 hour time limit, and it's clear that all of the COs here were ordered to keep us in the dark, as they "know nothing".  We are now on day 6 of this protest and have not been weighed or seen any medical staff.  Several men are without their glasses and one man was never issued his 12:00 o'clock medication yesterday.  So here we sit in these strip cells, isolated and punished for our demand for humane conditions.  We expected NOTHING LESS from CDCR and its policy makers.

Julie, you know my heart and you've seen my will, this was a grave mistake.  These attempts to further brutalize my mind and isolate my body have only set my resolve in stone.

Please contact my family and let them know I am alright despite the circumstances.  I will not be broken.  Also please try to ASAP me some paper, 5 envelopes & stamps.  I have nothing here apart from one more blank envelope and a trust withdrawal slip to cover the postage.  I would really appreciate it.  As for my health, I am holding up fine.  My body is tired but it's early.  Love you my friend, please try not to worry too much.

Love always,
Bryan

(Misspoke, I was seen on day 3 by a doc, weighed 178, but none of the rest of the guys have seen anyone.)

Note: he wrote his letter on the back of a page from the ASU orientation handbook.  The vertical gray streaks in his scanned letter are the words showing through.

 

Update on Bryan...he's strong!

I spoke with the person who was able to interview Bryan and she said he is looking very strong physically (considering).  Some of the men are so deteriorated physically that they will literally lay their heads on the table after 5 minutes of talking and say, "I need to take a break".  Not our Bryan!

He is strong in his body and in his heart.  He has a "fire in the belly" for justice and is totally committed to the moral correctness of this peaceful protest.  She said he was in good spirits and appreciated all the love we sent his way.  He sends his love to all of us.

As for the conditions in AdSeg, they are as have been reported.  He has a jumpsuit, a mattress and a blanket.  The air conditioning makes it freezing cold. Oh, they also have the watch caps (knit beanie type hat) that were given to them as a concession after the last hunger strike.  I don't know if he has one, he threw his away when they gave it to him in July.

He has received no mail since the hunger strike began.  Their property has been packed up from their SHU cells and put into the property room (storage).  Legally, their legal paperwork is to be available to them, but there are reports that that is not happening, so it sounds like legal mail is not getting through, either. Or if it comes through, it is speculated that it is being examined first, which is illegal but par for the course at Pelican Bay.

They are told that all they need to do is eat and they can go back their SHU cells, get their mail and resume visits.  So the battle lines are still drawn between CDCR and the hunger strikers.  No negotiations, and CDCR is coming at them hard, legally and illegally, in any way to break them.  Bryan is up for the continuation of this action until things move in the right direction.  Period.

Here is a link to an article from Oct.7 in the New York Times, the mainstream media is starting to pick up their coverage of the hunger strike.

I have spoken with his mom and close friends and we are all much relieved to learn that Bryan is OK.  It is very draining to fear for him and all of the others who are suffering so much at this time, but I try to remember that I need to stay strong as well.  Fear only saps energy and if Bryan can stay strong, so can I.

Ad Seg...Good thing, Bad thing, Who knows

Before I begin posting about Bryan's situation, which appears to have gone from very, very bad to even worse, I want to share this story about remaining in the present moment and avoiding stress and worry.

 Good thing, Bad thing, Who knows

There was once a farmer who owned a horse and had a son. 

One day, his horse ran away. The neighbors came to express their concern: "Oh, that's too bad. How are you going to work the fields now?" The farmer replied: "Good thing, Bad thing, Who knows?"

In a few days, his horse came back and brought another horse with her. Now, the neighbors were glad: "Oh, how lucky! Now you can do twice as much work as before!" The farmer replied: "Good thing, Bad thing, Who knows?"

The next day, the farmer's son fell off the new horse and broke his leg. The neighbors were concerned again: "Now that he is incapacitated, he can't help you around, that's too bad." The farmer replied: "Good thing, Bad thing, Who knows?"

Soon, the news came that a war broke out, and all the young men were required to join the army. The villagers were sad because they knew that many of the young men will not come back. The farmer's son could not be drafted because of his broken leg. His neighbors were envious: "How lucky! You get to keep your only son." The farmer replied: "Good thing, Bad thing, Who knows?"

*****

To repeat, Bryan's situation appears to have gone from very, very bad to even worse.  But I can promise you that he is still drawing breath.  I have word that he is one of 15 men who have been moved from their SHU cells to AdSeg (Administrative Segregation.)  It is a hole even deeper than the SHU...no property, or any items other than t-shirts, boxers and a thin blanket.  Currently, the temperature in Crescent City is 45 degrees and there are reports that CDCR is running the air conditioners full blast.

Since the hunger strike resumed on Sept. 26, all visits for hunger strikers have been denied, but for those in AdSeg, there are rumors that the mail is cut completely... conversely, there is also some word that they get three envelopes and a few sheets of paper.  Not that that does them any good, at this point in the last hunger strike, Bryan was too weak to even write.

Here is the good news.  Tomorrow, legal representatives from the Bay Area have interviews scheduled with several prisoners.  Bryan is on the list to be interviewed!!  One of the lawyers who knows that Bryan is my friend, called and said he was on the list.  I then called the person doing the interviews and she said she would request to interview Bryan and report back to me on his condition, which I will post here late tomorrow (no earlier than 10 pm).  So, things look bad, but at least we will know what is going on.

Now I will get into some information about the hunger strike and share with you a conversation that Bryan and I had before the July HS started.  If you are faint of heart, be forewarned, this is a very hard position he is taking:

Bryan was convinced that it would be a small number of strikers from the Short Corridor willing to go to the death, who would be key to the success of their peaceful protest.  There was some discussion/disagreement among the collective about taking this to a mass HS level as shrinking numbers might be perceived as CDCR breaking the strike.  As a group, although there was discussion, they did agree with the concept that large numbers could go as long as possible out of solidarity.  With an estimate that 12,000 men were not eating last week and the numbers going down, it is important to remember that is was the original intent... to keep it small but intense.

At this point, the men know that the next step is for several of them to "get to the tube" or be force feed.  This horrible procedure is painful in the best of circumstance, but with retaliatory intentions, force feeding will give CDCR the ability to inflict tremendous pain and suffering.  Bryan knows this and it is his greatest fear, even greater than the fear of death.  As his emergency and medical contact, Bryan designated me on his Advance Directive (DNR) to carry out his wishes when he is in a diminished capacity and can no longer speak for himself.  When the  CDCR calls me to ask for permission to force feed him or provide medical care, I will say no.  Bryan's mother, sister and other family members have all been informed by Bryan of this fact and understand what must be done and why.  It is a hard thing to do and perhaps Bryan wanted to spare his mother.  I am sharing this now so you won't be shocked or angry when the time comes.

Bryan also told me that in order for enough people to become aware of the tortuous situation in the SHU, it may take several deaths to get the mainstream media to cover the story adequately.  Bryan knows this and expects to be one of the first to fall.  He was sent to the hospital in town for 5 days of life-saving treatment after the last hunger strike and almost died.  He doesn't write of "if" but "when".  I pray he is wrong.

This site is about the truth of what is happening to Bryan and what he is choosing to do. He is willing to lay down his life on the hopes that someday he can get out of the Shu and that no one else ever has to live is such torturous conditions.  I have intentionally left out many brutal truths about what he expects in these coming days, because I do not want to speculate or cause any unnecessary concerns about things that may not happen.  But be prepared, if the CDCR does not make some progress towards meeting the reasonable demands of the prisoners this will get very, very ugly.  I am hoping for the best, but given the hard line CDCR is taking, we must prepare for the worst.

.

12,000 prisoners hunger striking, family visits denied, prisoners' legal team barred

Yesterday, I got a post card that Bryan wrote on 9/27, day two of this hunger strike.  On that date, he was in good spirits and stronger than ever in his resolve to "see this thing through".   After 5 days off-line for a personal retreat, I decided it was time to turn on my computer.  Imagine my surprise to find out that 12,000 prisoners are now on hunger strike over conditions in CA prisons.  CDCR, not content to horrify us with their treatment of prisoners, has retaliated by cutting family visits (my visit with Bryan was denied last week) and now has decided to bar the prisoners' legal team from Pelican Bay State Prison.

No press, no family visits, no attorneys....their fear is palpable.  CDCR can no longer hide the brutality they have been engaged in for decades.  Don't they realize?  It is too late.  The truth can no longer be hidden.  We are aware, we are disturbed, we are speaking out, we are acting in solidarity with Bryan and men like him to say NO MORE!!!

To quote the press release printed below,

..." People on the outside have the moral responsibility to act in a way commensurate with the justness of the prisoners’ demands and the urgency of the situation.  What people do on the outside of prison will be a big factor in what happens now that the prisoners resumed their hunger strike...."


I am so overwhelmed.  This blog is about Bryan, but I feel some responsibility to keeping readers informed about the nature of events.  But things are changing so fast....I just have to turn this over and redirect you.  If you wish to get information about the latest developments, go to: The Prisoner Hunger Strike Solidarity website.  To keep myself informed,  I set up in a Google alert which searches for news related to "Pelican Bay" and "Hunger Strike".  All the news comes related to these items comes straight to my in box.

Give me a day to gather myself and reflect on these newest developments. Until then, Call the Governor of CA to insist that he put pressure on CDCR to stop the torture, then please read the press release below.

 ***

You can make a difference right now, take a moment to call:

Governor Jerry Brown
Phone: (916) 445-2841 

Sample Statement:


 “Hi my name is _________ . I’m calling about the statewide prisoner hunger strike that resumed on Sept 26th. I support the prisoners & their reasonable “five core demands.” I am alarmed by the CDCR’s refusal to implement these demands. I urge you to make sure these demands are implemented for all SHU-status prisoners in CA immediately and in good faith. I also urge you to lift the CDCR’s ban on lawyers from the prisoners’ mediation team, and ensure the CDCR ceases all retaliation on the hunger strikers. Thank you.”

 ***

For Immediate Release – Media Advisory

Press Conference – Unprecedented CA Prisoner Hunger Strike!

Wednesday, October 5, 10am sharp

West Hollywood City Hall – 1^st Floor Lobby

8300 Santa Monica Blvd. (Sweetzer and Santa Monica Blvd. )

West Hollywood, CA 90069

Support the Unprecedented CA Prisoner Hunger Strike --

Stop Torture in the CA SHU’s and Stop Retaliation on the Prisoners and the Targeting of Legal Advocates

Contact: 213-840-5348; CA Prison Hunger Strike Action Network

Speakers and Participants:

·        ACLU of Southern California ; Peter Eliasberg, Legal Director

·        National Religious Campaign Against Torture (NRCAT);

Virginia Classick, Member, Board of Directors, NRCAT

·        Progressive Christians Uniting; Peter Laarman, Executive Director

·        Ed Asner, actor, a statement

·        Wayne Kramer, Jail Guitar Doors

·        Clyde Young, Revolutionary Communist and Former Prisoner

·        National Lawyers Guild, UCLA Law Chapter

·        Family members with loved ones in CA SHU’s (Security Housing Units)

·        Moderated by Michael Slate, KPFK radio host and writer for Revolution newspaper

***

Following 20 days in July when 6,600 prisoners in CA participated in a hunger strike to stop torture in the Security Housing Units (SHU) at Pelican Bay and other state prisons, over 11,800 prisoners resumed the hunger strike in at least 8 CA State Prisons beginning September 26.  This extraordinary, historic action and upsurge of prisoners is the one of the most important since Attica 40 years ago. 

Courageously, in the face of threats of disciplinary sanctions by prison officials -- including the threat of being thrown into solitary confinement if a prisoner in the “general population” dares take part in the strike -- an unprecedented number of prisoners have become even more united in their demands to end the inhumane, barbaric torture of long-term solitary confinement in the SHU’s. 

As this hunger strike has grown and taken on an even more determined character, so must our efforts to expose the torture in the SHU’s and to support the prisoners’ just demands to end long term solitary confinement and the sham of “gang validation” that lands prisoners in the SHU for years and often decades (see 5 core demands below). 

Torture is unequivocally unacceptable under any circumstances.  But what has been unfolding in the SHU’s is a systematic use of torture by the state for years and decades: torture of both the minds and bodies of many thousands of prisoners to “break them” and to either have them die in long term solitary confinement or be driven insane through the psychological torture of years and decades of isolation.  Such torture is an affront to human dignity.  People on the outside have the moral responsibility to act in a way commensurate with the justness of the prisoners’ demands and the urgency of the situation.  What people do on the outside of prison will be a big factor in what happens now that the prisoners resumed their hunger strike.

                                                                                          

Moreover, not only has there been steady stream of reports of intimidation and retaliation against prisoners (and their families), the CDCR has now sent expulsion orders to two key mediation team lawyers, notifying them they have been banned from the prison pending an investigation into whether they had “jeopardized the safety and security of the CDCR.”  On top of serious threats against prisoners by prison officials and the recent denial of family visits, the actual cutting off of contact with the prisoners legal team adds to the tremendous urgency to act in support of the prisoners and stop further efforts to isolate the hunger striking prisoners – isolation which has potentially ominous implications unless a giant spotlight shines on this new outrage and the situation as a whole.

***

Briefly the five core demands of the prisoners are:

1. Eliminate group punishments.  Instead, practice individual accountability. When an individual prisoner breaks a rule, the prison often punishes a whole group of prisoners of the same race.  This policy has been applied to keep prisoners in the SHU indefinitely and to make conditions increasingly harsh. 

2. Abolish the debriefing policy and modify active/inactive gang status criteria. Prisoners are accused of being active or inactive participants of prison gangs using false or highly dubious evidence, and are then sent to longterm isolation (SHU). They can escape these tortuous conditions only if they "debrief," that is, provide information on gang activity. Debriefing produces false information (wrongly landing other prisoners in SHU, in an endless cycle) and can endanger the lives of debriefing prisoners and their families.
3. Comply with the recommendations of the US Commission on Safety and Abuse in Prisons (2006) regarding an end to long term solitary confinement.  This bipartisan commission specifically recommended to "make segregation a last resort" and "end conditions of isolation."  Yet as of May 18, 2011 , California kept 3,259 prisoners in SHUs and hundreds more in Administrative Segregation waiting for a SHU cell to open up.  Some prisoners have been kept in isolation for more than thirty years. 

4. Provide adequate food.  Prisoners report unsanitary conditions and small quantities of food that do not conform to prison regulations.  There is no accountability or independent quality control of meals.

5. Expand and provide constructive programs and privileges for indefinite SHU inmates.  The hunger strikers are pressing for opportunities “to engage in self-help treatment, education, religious and other productive activities..."  Currently these opportunities are routinely denied, even if the prisoners want to pay for correspondence courses themselves.  Examples of privileges the prisoners want are: one phone call per week, and permission to have sweatsuits and watch caps. (Often warm clothing is denied, though the cells and exercise cage can be bitterly cold.)  All of the privileges mentioned in the demands are already allowed at other SuperMax prisons (in the federal prison system and other states).

Visit Denied Today

I am sorry to report that when I went to visit today it was denied due to "security concerns".  There is no definitive news to report to the family... no news is good news at this point.


Upon the recommendation of Officer Alanis, visiting room staff member, I will show up for visit tomorrow and see if anything has changed.  Perhaps I will have more to report about Bryan at that time.

. 

Hunger Strike Leaders confirm that the Hunger Strike is over.

I just got off the phone with Carol Strickman (staff attorney for Legal Services for Prisoners with Children) and she confirmed that lawyers had inperson interviews with the leaders of the strike today.  She said the leaders did call off the Hunger Strike and consider it a success.

Some concessions were made, and a good faith statement by CDCR to review more changes to policy was accepted by the four leaders.  They felt that CDCR and it's treatment of prisoners has been exposed and that the people with continue to press for reform.  The leaders knew that the men were at a critical point, facing death and felt that needed reforms could be attained with out risking their lives.

I will visit with Bryan on Saturday and let everyone know how he is doing.  At 11:26 this morning Lt. Acosta, Public Information Officer of Pelican Bay, informed me that Bryan was taking nutrition at a medically appropriate pace to ensure he comes off the fast safely.  I thought it was just spin/a lie, but I now believe him.

Thank God!
 

Holding vigil for Bryan across the road from Pelican Bay State Prison

I just didn't know what to do with myself today, having heard the news about men refusing water.  I know that Bryan is one of them.  So I drove to PBSP and with a few daisys picked from the ditch, just stood there holding vigil.  I watched the entire afternoon group of CO come to work and the 1st shift leave.  I also stayed until all the administrators, who left at 5:00, could see me .  I had no hatred, but I would quietly wave at them and more than half (my guess) waved in a friendly, supporting way back.

How the Day Unfolded

At about 1:45 p, I went to the gate, where a member of the visiting staff was working.  As he sees me whenever I visit, he knows me as well as any up there.  I just showed him my ID, told him the men were refusing water and that in all probability Bryan was dying.  I reminded him that I had passed a security check in order to visit and that I was going to be on public property and would not block traffic.  I promised to be quiet and peaceful.  He had no problem with me being there, but he did ask for me to remind him who I visit.

About 45 minutes later, a couple of cars with some guys in SWAT team looking uniforms got out and set up a tripod with video camera and made a big show of taping me.  Hmmm, Capitol Hill police on horse-back couldn't scare me off in 2004 , so their "show" had little effect.  When they saw that I didn't leave, they just left the tripod under the care of the gate staff and left.

Someone driving to work shouted out the car window, "HEY JULIE" and gave me a big wave. One of the visiting staff ?...that made me smile.  Also an employee stopped and asked who I was holding vigil for.  This employee didn't know that the men had begun to refuse water.  The sympathetic response given was a much needed kindness  that late in the afternoon.

Several family members of men in the SHU called, very upset about the men refusing water.  I just listened and comforted.  I also spent some time on the phone with Bryan's Mother.  She is so strong and supportive.

Tomorrow I'll go back from 1:30 - 6:00, with a sign.  Hopefully some friends?  Also, California Prison Focus has lawyers, etc.  at Pelican Bay on Wed and Thurs interviewing prisoners.  They might stay at the tent, I can give them a ride to the prison and just be at their disposal, whatever they need.

I felt powerless, but now I feel that I took an action that let everyone from the prison who saw me know  ...This is where I stand, in solidarity with the prisoners on hunger strike.

You Are Not Alone -or- Let Me Entertain You

When times are hard, there is something comforting about having a loving soul just willing to be present, to walk beside you as things unfold. 

I have learned from working with wounded soldiers, families in crisis and now hunger striking prisoners that often I can’t change the reality of their situations, but I can taking their minds away from the pain. I can make things a little better, just for the moment.

Sometimes I entertain, just by tell stories of my life, my kids, my pets and the like.   I actively take the lead in providing something else to think about other than the situation.  Usually things start this way with shy people.  Bryan let me do a lot of talking in the beginning, he had so many questions.

Another way to help suffering people is to distract by getting them to tell me stories about their lives.  For instance, I asked Bryan what he used to do on the 4^th of July when he was a kid.  He launched off into a wonderful story of the huge family celebrations in Texas, complete with homemade ice cream and the kid’s fishing contest.  All I had to do is listen, smile and prompt with a question every once in a while.  The most wonderful thing about this is that for the duration of the story, his mind was back there, once again that happy 10 year old, frantically trying to catch the most perch.

As a continuation of my last post, here are the pictures that I took to visit to share with Bryan.  I am also able to send them in by mail. He feels guilty that I am here, investing all this time and effort for him, but I explain that it is my calling to be where I can make a difference, even if that difference is only to one person…. And Bryan is my one person at this moment in time.  

Through these pictures, I wanted to give him a glimpse of my reality here in Crescent City so he would know that I not at all put out.  This is not my first road trip/camping adventure in support of a worthy cause!

Here are the pictures I shared with Bryan on Monday and the approximate commentary:

My tent is about 24’x16’ plus a screened vestibule, larger than TWO cells in the SHU.  

My cot and teddy bear.

Tiffany, the Birthday Hamster.  She is my dwarf hamster, who is along for support.  I call her the “Birthday Hamster” because as a nanny, I would bring her to the house for the kids to play with, but only on the occasion of a birthday.  They love her!  So do I!

 

Here I am at Pebble Beach, just outside of Crescent City, CA

 

 A view from Pebble Beach Road, Crescent City, CA

This is my Cellie, as in cell mate.

Here is the fun part of this blog.  This is my teddy bear….Who needs a name.  I asked Bryan if he would come up with a name for my bear…perhaps talk through the steel door to his friends (they can do that with difficulty) and take suggestions.  He looked amazed and shocked -  like any typical man asked to engage is some sort of female silliness - and said he could never do that!  I have it on good authority from some of the other wives visiting their husbands that their men would almost certainly submit names.  So we’ll see.

Getting men to name a cellie is easier than getting them to name a teddy bear, so the contest is called, “Name Julie’s Cellie".  

It is this sort of “out of the box” activity that distracts and entertains my incarcerated friends, they always seem amused…which is good because they are usually laughing with me and not at me…either way, while they are laughing, they are free.

Pelican Bay State Prison

In 1989, Pelican Bay State Prison was cut out of a dense forest near Crescent City, CA. The highlight of the new super-max prison was the Security Housing Unit (SHU), the X-shaped building at front, where 1,300 prisoners are kept in long-term solitary confinement, under conditions of extreme sensory deprivation.

Image from : www.sfbappa.org

This is where the CDCR keeps Bryan .  Although I didn’t think I would ever visit Bryan, I filled out the visiting form, just in case.  My first visit was September 2010.  After a background check and other processes taking about 4-6-weeks, I was approved.  For each visit, I must call on a Monday and leave a message requesting a reservation for a visiting booth that coming weekend.  His section is allowed a two hour visit on Saturday and a two hour visit on Sunday.

After driving the 15 minutes from Crescent City, I enter the gate at the bottom of the picture (near that blue tower in the lower left) and drive clockwise to the parking lot (at the top of the picture).  I enter the Visiting Processing Area at 10:00am (the top, center building), fill out my form and give the VR staff my ID. The CDCR Visiting Room staff is friendly in a professional way, I never feel bad about visiting a prisoner.

There are strict rules about what to wear, but it really comes down to no under wire bras and no blue jeans or blue shirts as they resemble the prisoners’ uniforms at most CDCR facilities.  We then remove any metal items like jewelry, take off our shoes and pass through a very sensitive metal detector…. Exactly like the airport.
 
My information is entered into the computer and Bryan’s Section is called and told to prepare him for visit.  At 10:45 I get on a small bus with about 20 other visitors for the ride to the front of the SHU (the black shadowed area where the  X-intersects.)

Once in the SHU visiting area, I give the processing staff my paperwork and am assigned a booth where Bryan is waiting.  Only once did I arrive first and see him brought into his side of the booth in shackles, which were removed and the door closed.  I wasn’t too bothered by this…chains are the price one pays for a visit.

©: National Geographic Television

A box of hand and leg restraints at Colorado State Penitentiary. When moved out of their cells, inmates are restrained by hand and leg cuffs.

What I don’t see and Bryan has never mentioned is that he must undergo a complete strip search, probably into and out of visit. Here is an image and description of a Pelican Bay SHU strip search, also from the www.sfbappa.org  webpage:

An inmate in the Security Housing Unit at Pelican Bay State Prison removes all his clothing, spreads his toes and buttocks and is handcuffed without coming into physical contact with prison guards before a visit to the prison dentist.

After our visits, I leave the booth and Bryan is returned to his isolated cell, without even a window in the door.

Imagine being locked up in a windowless concrete cell the size of a small bathroom for 23 hours a day, without any face-to-face contact with another human being. You never see sunlight or a blade of grass. Whenever you leave your cell you’re handcuffed and shackled, hands-to-waist, ankle-to-ankle. Imagine being locked in these conditions for years. This is what it’s like to be in the Pelican Bay SHU.

This has been Bryan’s reality for 16 years.  

A Pelican Bay Prison Guard carries a rifle in the control room of the ultra-maximum Security Housing Unit, known as the SHU, whenever a guard enters one of the groups of 10 cells.

I have a new friend! Bryan's 5-5-10 letter telling me all about himself....

I am printing all of Bryan's letters to me in the order that I received them....

Having received my letter, entertainment packet and “bio”, Brian is responding with his first real letter.  As far commenting on the difficulties of life in he SHU, he only mentions the SHU mail delivery being slow and not being able to have pictures taken.  In this letter Bryan is focusing on introducing himself and commenting on all the things that I sent to him. Note his list and respond style, common when prisoners write letters.

This letter was seven pages of very, very, tiny writing, about the size of this 12 font lettering – single spaced!  I can see that he protected me from the torture that is his life, but to reveal it at this point would have horrified me and frightened me away. I guess we all self monitor what we share with new friends.

***********************************************

Written Wed. 5-5-10

Mrs. Julie,

Hello friend! It’s 4:58 and I can hear them pushing the chow carts in this direction and my stomach is growling but I am smiling from ear to ear as I just finished reading your really nice letter.  Thank you so much for taking the time to write a complete stranger and I really hope that you know that your willingness to open up the door and invite me in as a friend is not lost on me.  With that said, allow me to get ready for whatever it is that they’re pushing this way and then I’ll jump into your letter.

Wow…that was brutal.  :-)  Processed turkey.  It looked like a piece of white sponge but I got it down and I appreciate the little guys sacrifice.

Glad to hear that you received my postcard.  I was just trying to return the smile.  Eight days to reach you is no surprise.  What do you know about the SHU?  (Security Housing Unit)  All of our mail here goes through I.G.I (Institutional Gang Investigators), incoming and outgoing.  And whether it’s a simple post card or a 10 page letter, it’s going to land there for a while.  To receive your 4-29 letter in six days is frankly stunning.  The norm is 12 to 20 days.  So please keep this in mind during our future correspondence.  I’m a faithful pen pal who will ALWAYS write back, so when you feel that little internal clock going off that says I should’ve written by now, just know that it’s the mail situation here.  It’s been as bad as 30 to 45 days in the past.  That one had all of our loved ones up in arms.

You….First of all, congratulations on your one full year of sobriety.  I’ll speak more on this later in this letter but New Years was my tenth year and for those of us who recognize the importance of this in our lives, that was a big one for both of us.  That first one is tuff but I promise you that it gets easier as you not only grow stronger but you also grow prouder of your sobriety.  Especially the more times that you say no.  I wish you nothing but STRENGTH.

I enjoyed reading your short bio that you had posted.  As is normal with all people, we share some things in common and are polar opposites in others.  One thing that we have in common is openness.  You really put yourself out there…this is me, let the world see.  I can’t say that I’m “that” open but those who I share my life with are free to know me on every level.  I still live with a tremendous amount of guilt, I suffer from self-doubt and worry what others will think of me and my past…BUT…who doesn’t?  I look it all in the eye and don’t allow it to cripple me or socially stunt me to the point to where I shrink away from allowing others to really know me.  So feel free to ask anything that you’re interested in learning about me and don’t worry about stepping over any lines.

A little about me, mirrored with your summary:  You have to be careful in prison as to the level of trust that you can give other men but it is in my nature to give others the benefit of the doubt.  I like to assume the best in people as well.  We’re all flawed and I find it ridiculous to look down one’s nose at others…though we’re all guilty of it at times.

My work ethic is go-go-go, “bored” is not even in my vocabulary. :-)  Who has time for that!  I’m not even remotely materialistic, if I see the same generosity, I’ll give he shirt off of my back.  But like you, I still like to have nice things.  Here, that’s just the little things that make day-to-day a little more comfortable but when I’m free I’ll hold myself to a certain standard.  I love to give, too, if I were rich, it probably wouldn’t last very long. :-)  On the flip-side, I’m terrible about receiving and asking is like pulling teeth.  Not sure why…pride, maybe a bit of ego but I’m getting better at it.

Country boy to my bones but I’m at home in any environment.  I grew up in small town East Texas, great parents and grandparents, Methodist on one side Baptist on the other.  I spent every waking hour in the woods as a kid until I discovered girls and then unfortunately drugs.  But my bond to nature is deep.  Working hard is natural to me as well.  My dear ol’ ma works as hard as any man that I’ve ever know and my Pops works just as hard as she does.  I couldn’t possibly be any other way!  I truly admire this about you.

Not a father and have to come to terms with the fact that I never will be.  My father is hands down the most honorable, loving, tuff ol’ guy that I’ll ever know.  I was blessed beyond words and to never have what we have, with my own son or daughter, is a knife straight to the heart.  But on the other hand what if I would’ve been a teen father and never raised my child because I was locked up?  That would’ve been far worse.  I wouldn’t wish that on any child or parent.  It sounds like you must have done a great job with both in college.

Never been married and never would in prison.  But I’ll definitely be looking when I get out! :-)  I think I’ll be a good husband, even if I’m an old fogey then.

I’m no goody two shoes but I’m dead set against drugs and that whole scene.  When I’m free and settled I’d like to find the right cause to help as well.  It would mean a lot to me to actually be a positive force in whatever circle I found myself.

Politically informed but highly disgusted.  Very close to losing my faith in the system, Julie.  Are we a democracy or a corporate state pretending to be a democracy?  Believe me, when I’m free, you’ll find me in the street with a sign marching.  I’m pro-choice too, you can’t legislate a woman’s body.  I also believe in equal pay.  But I’m dead set against quotas and affirmative action.  The fed up young white male who’s done apologizing!   

OK, back to your letter.  Hope that begins to paint a little picture of myself for you.  I appreciate your sharing all of this with me.  As far as a positive attitude goes, I truly believe that we have to take ownership of our lives.  Don’t want to sound too much like Dr. Phil but we have to own where we find ourselves in life.  It’s a lot easier to find balance and happiness once you get rid of all the baggage that we all impose on ourselves.  I can honestly say that I’m happy 90% of the time.  And when I do get down on myself or po’ed at some external force, it’s brief.

As a Catholic I hope you are not too put off by this but I lost my faith in my early 20s which rocked my world as I’m sure you can imagine.  But in the end it gave me a true love of LIFE.  I stopped looking for heaven and started looking around me for the first time.  And I realized how beautiful the world is, right here, right now.  And I began to value every minute of every day in a really different way.  Once I viewed life as finites and almost fleeting in comparison to the life of our universe, it just made me appreciate it so much more.

Well Mrs. Julie it’s already 9:16 now.  I’m a slow writer huh! :-)  I’m on old fart status.  37, eating diner at 5:00, bed time at 9:00 and I get up at 4:15.  If I’m super old by the time they allow me to parole I’ll transition nicely into some senior care facility, hopefully co-ed!  With that I must brush my teeth and call it a night.  I’ll finish this up for you tomorrow.

Guten Tag, Mrs. Julie!  Its 11:12 and absolutely gorgeous outside, about 55 degrees and sunny.  I’ve had a good morning.  Got up early and knocked out my vocabulary studies during my workout and abs, cleaned up and waited for breakfast (2 boiled eggs, 2 pieces of bread, fruit and a milk).  We’re feeling the budget crisis here.  Anyway I was first out to the “yard” and I can look up through the mesh and see the sky.  It was already a nice pale blue and I could tell that it was going to be super nice out today.  I’m the only white in my section in this building but I have a good friend that I talk to each Thurs. morning through a thick steel door that’s welded shut which separates his “yard” from mine.  So we talked for a while.  This may sound crazy but we both started writing this year and one of our projects is together so we stand there at that door (my ear on my side, his on his side) and take notes and read what we’ve written.  Not very efficient and terrible on my neck but we manage. :-)

I think it’s seriously cool of you as a person to have volunteered in the military hospital.  The older I get, the more anti-war I become but I accept that there’s a time and place when men and women have to make an armed stand.  But my personal feelings on the war aside, I watch the roll call each Fri. on PBS of the fallen young men and women and I feel that.  Not all, but most are so young and the skeptic in me can’t help but to wonder what Afghanistan will look like in 10 or 20 years and whether the current policies will have asked for this level of sacrifice in vain or not.  Let us hope not.

Was “A Gift of Time” your concept?  So you’re basically a Jill of all trades.  Have you been in business for long?  With two daughters in college I’m assuming that you’re definitely making a good go of it.  Scholarships or not, that can’t be easy on the purse strings.  Professional mom, I like that.  :-)  There’s great pride in hard work.

So you do karaoke.  Does this mean that you’re a big music lover?  You mention the choir as well.  I love music and I listen closely to the lyrics.  M favorite is classic rock but I love country, jazz, folk, Irish… pretty much everything but rap and real bubble gummy pop.  I have to admit that for the first time I’m listening to some of what the kids like these days and just shake my head.  Now I know how Pops must have felt when my sister and I would torture him in the car with early Madonna and Wham! :-)  I’m more Bob Segar / Johnny Cash now.

This leads me to why I wrote.  I’ve been in the SHU for 15 years (solitary confinement) and as you can imagine, one either comes to know his/her self or breaks.  I have my ups and downs just like everyone else but I “freed” my mind years ago.  So I actively reach out to the “world” and try to stay engaged through my writing.  I write 7 people in Germany, a couple in the U.K. and Spain and of course my family in Texas.  In my early years here I had “disengaged” and just disappeared behind these walls.  That’s the worst thing a young guy can do in prison.  So with so many friends out there I feel alive (even here).  I have a future to strive for that I couldn’t see when I was 22-23-24.  I’ll never let myself crawl back into that hole.

So being so far away from home, I have only had two visits in 15 years.  I just can’t ask my family to spend $1000 on airfare and hotel cost for two hours.  I let them know that I’m just as happy with their letters as I would be with a visit because I in no way want them feeling bad about not coming out.  And I mean that Julie.  Therefore when I briefly had the chance to speak to this friend of mine about you I jumped at the chance to meet someone right here.  Seattle is still a nice journey but it’s not Texas or Europe.  I’m sure you can understand my motivation here.

In my letter, I had explained to Bryan that the woman I drove down with and planned on driving down with again,( making it possible for me to visit him)…we had a horrible falling out and I informed him that I would never take a road trip with her again.  Therefore, I was only able to be a pen pal, not a  visitor.  I described the situation in detail, which he is responding to here.

As for your trip down here… I was mortified when I read that paragraph.  I’m asking you straight-out to please not let that reflect on me.  I don’t know the gal and if I had the chance to pull her up and check her for putting you in that spot believe me I would.  I don’t even have that chance with my friend.  That’s a conversation that we would have to have face to face so as not to put his business out there for others to hear and that’s not possible here either or I would definitely have this talk with him.  So let me apologize to you for such an unpleasant experience.  I mean that from the heart.  Not cool at all. 

So don’t worry yourself for one second about not turning that form in or coming down here with her.  I totally understand and support your decision Julie.  I would be honored to stay in touch with you and see what kind of friendship grows out of our correspondence.  Visit or no visit, it’s easy to see that you’re good people. :-)

Your packet of fun things.  Vielen Dank!  The art history stuff is right up my alley.  We’re not allowed any art supplies here, not even paper but I always have 2 or 3 pen drawings going at all times.  My Granny oil painted and put me through lessons when I was 7,8,9 and I’ve always drawn.  Do you do any kind of artwork?  Franz Marc I am familiar with, thank you for the fantastic print!!  I must admit that my taste tends to lean more towards realism or naturalism.  Are you familiar with Caspar David Friedrick?  I write a really good young friend in Bayern Germany and she introduced me to his work.  Check him out.  I hope you’ll keep the art history stuff as a regular part of our correspondence and if you send future prints please don’t write on the back because they’re perfect little future canvases for my work. Is that cool?  If you’d like to check out some of my old work look at www.celticreigh.com (this site is now closed-Julie).  I haven’t sent anything there in years but they have a few of my old pieces.

Wow, this is getting CRAZY long.  Just bear with me a moment longer! :-)  The pictures are fantastic.  Do people tell you that you look familiar?? You do.  :-)  Maybe it’s the Susan Sarandon similarity.  I just saw her the other night on that genealogy show.  I have a single picture of myself from when I was 18 or 19 in CYA and clueless.  You’re welcome to see it if you can send it back (it’s my only one).  They don’t allow taking photos here, not eve to just mail directly home to our loved ones so I haven’t taken one since pre 1995.

FORTUITOUS. The way we met was a fortuitous bounce of fate.  :-)  I like the word of the day.  Do you know any languages?  I’m fully fluent in Spanish and about 80% of the way there on my German.  Spanish is a cake walk, the German was BRUTAL.

Have a cup of freeze dried Folgers, luke warm, sitting on the coaster. (I sent a cardboard coaster from a restaurant)  Yeah, that was crazy. I sat here looking at it trying to figure out how you could’ve possibly put that in this envelope by accident.  At least until I got to this part of your letter.  A little surprised that I got it because they don’t give us any thick cardboard or even paper that exceeds a certain thickness.  What you did Franz Marc’s “Blue Horse” on is about the limit.  Anything thicker would probably get stopped.  By the way, wasn’t Marc’s death (the manner/timing) almost Shakespearean?

Well Mrs. Julie, my new friend, that brings me to the end of this insanely long letter.  Please don’t feel obligated to respond to all of this.  My motto is to just simply let it flow.  Whatever is on your mind, whenever you sit down to type.  And I’ll reign in the length now that I’ve given you a little bio.  You take care out there and let us all keep our fingers crossed that the oil spill in the Gulf isn’t quite the disaster that this is looking like it may be.  Bis bald (until soon).

With Utmost Respect,

Bryan

Curling league for 5 years & being from “Minnesota”… Hmmm…..Minnesota, Manitoba.  That sounds like “probable cause” to check your green card.  You better stay out of Arizona! :-)

P.S.  As an ex military wife you have knowledge (first hand) in an area of a fictitious story that I’m writing in which a soldier receives bad news form home.  I’m basin it on email but I have no first hand knowledge of how the process works.  Rule number one in writing fiction, get your facts straight.  Would you be open to answering some of my questions in this area in future letters?  It no, it’s no biggy.  I have a friend who’s brother is in the Marine Corps who will eventually help me but he’s young and terrible about writing.

Last but not least, I can’t believe I almost forgot to ask, but are you a big reader?  I know with work and the normal flow of life that a lot of people flat out don’t have the time.  I love to read, it’s my great escape.