26 weeks: What helps me not feel so alone.

For any of my friends that have been scolded by me or night be scolded by me in the future for not visiting or writing in a while, I'm sorry. I totally realize that people outside of prison have busy lives, but I can't help but feel a little disappointed or upset when I don't hear from you guys for a while. It's just because you all are greatly missed, so think of it that way.

I highly hope that none of you will have to ever come to prison to know just how much mail and visits mean to an inmate. They say when you come here, you get to see who your true friends are and I'm happy to know that I have a wonderful family and friends that have continuously proven to pull me through any difficult times in my life.

I smile when I think of all the concerned calls and visits to my home after my accident, provided rides to places when I had no car, seeing me at the hospital or at home after my surgery, taking me out to eat before getting locked up, everything. When I get out and start getting my life back together, the first thing I'm doing is treating you all, one by one, and thanking you for all the love and support. And being in prison too, thank you for the visits, for the letters, for the pictures and books and magazines, for the jokes to fill my days with a little laughter, and most of all for your thoughts and prayers. They have continued to keep me strong and well, despite everything that has happened.

Now, this doesn't mean that you won't get a scolding letter from me if I haven't heard from you in over a month. I'll still be like, "Where have you been?!" But that's only because I miss you and am wondering how you're doing and would like to hear from you regularly.

We don't have much in here but to rely on the love and support from others to get through each day. Trust me, I see people here who don't have that, and they become horribly miserable. I understand how others can have such anger issues, insecurities, and bitterness at the world and it makes me grateful as hell. We all really live off the basics and that shows more than ever in here, being stripped from much of anything else. I go to bed each night, thanking God for getting me through another day and for all the love I have continuously been shown and wishing well to everyone I care for. I've honestly never felt as much love in my life as I have since the accident and I promise to never fail to acknowledge it around me ever again.