A Little Bit of Laughter

     I love the honest and at times, humorous, naivety of children. My mom used to think when she was a little girl that a house that had a picture window was something spectacular! My ten year old son thinks if you live in a two story house, you must be rich. I guess I thought the same thing when I was young too. I told you in my previous blog that I had sent Russell a card with some pictures of us (his 6th grade teachers) on various trips we have taken and just a few of the many wonderful times we have been spent together as friends. Although I know he is legally an adult now, his response to our pictures still has a bit of that funny childlike naivety. And below is Russell's third letter to me.

Mrs. Edmunds,

"So how's the school year going Mrs. Edmunds? It's been real hot, but I'm just waiting on October. That's my favorite month because it feels the best. Well, I'm just here in short to let you know I got the card and all the pictures you shot me. Y'all look great! For some reason I always thought (when I was younger) that teachers never have fun! LOL!" Didn't we all think that as kids when we looked at our teachers? "Yea, I know, stupid right, but it looks like y'all have more fun than I've had! I mean, I don't even know what zip lining is! Looked cool though!" After I read that, it made me wonder what else he doesn't know about? I can imagine when you are confined in prison how much of the outside world you must miss out on.
     One of the pictures I sent him was a time when we traveled to Colorado Springs for Beverly's son's wedding, which was held at the Glen Eyrie castle. An estate that once belonged to William Jackson Palmer who founded the city. This is the picture below.

Russell continues, "So, in that picture of y'all standing in front of "a house," is that Mrs. Barfield's son's house? It looks like a castle! LOL! It's probably the most beautiful house (mansion) I've ever seen!" How can you just not grin and laugh a bit by that response? Still that young naivety inside him. "About time someone shot me some real pictures! It seems like everybody's afraid to shoot me pics of them chillin and havin fun. But I love to see that though. It don't make me feel sad or anything. Also, I put you and Mrs. Barfield on my visitation list. I'm just waiting for it to get approved. It usually takes a week or two. I assume you won't be able to make the trip down here right now because school just started, but just a little heads up. They take pictures up here the first weekend of every month. $3.00 a piece." He goes on to remind me that we can't bring paper money; only coins, and asks if I got the picture of him he included in the letter. He said it was of him when he was 16 still in county jail before he signed for his time. Then Russell closes his letter. "Oh, thank you for the card, and send my thanks to the other teachers who signed it. I'll go ahead and close for now, but I hope to see you soon. Have a good week."

Russell

     I called the prison about a week and a half after I received this letter and found out that we have been approved on Russell's visitation list. We aren't telling him, but Beverly and I are making the trip up there this Sunday. We thought we'd surprise him. Russell told Beverly in his last letter to her about the prison taking the pictures the first weekend of every month and how they cost $3.00 each. He put "expensive" in parenthesis after the amount.

     Don't worry Russell...we've got it covered. See you Sunday!

I'll share the trip with you all next week!