Conversation, Prayers, and a Picnic Table

Prior to this past weekend, it had been six months since our last visit to see Russell, and during that last visit, as has been the previous visits for the last three years, we talked to Russell on a telephone separated by glass. On Saturday, we finally got to sit down with Russell and visit him at a picnic table again.

Russell got his G2 status revoked after our first physical contact visit three years ago due to some poor choices, so Beverly and I have stayed on him to not get himself in any trouble and stay "case free" so we could meet him at the picnic table for Saturday's visit. We told Russell we are tired of visiting him through glass, and that he has to work on making good choices himself, since obviously we can't do it for him. Russell promised us he would start working on that, and that he would let us know when he got his G2 status again. About four weeks ago and after three years of "behind the glass visits", he sent Beverly a card that simply said, "G2 status is back and you both have been approved for a physical contact visit."

In prison, only family members are eligible for physical contact visits, and since neither Bev nor I gave birth to this boy, we aren't considered family, and therefore shouldn't be eligible for a physical contact visit...ever. The great thing though about being a kid's teachers, is that we feel like family since they are with us for the majority of their school day, and even more so, we consider our students as our own. With Russell; however, we truly have become his family now, and I don't think it's premature to say, Bev and I are all he has. Russell's mom has been to see him one time in the 11 years (next month) he will have been in prison. I have no doubt there are reasons of her own she has been unable to visit him, and I don't for a second discredit her love for her son, but something, whatever it is, has prevented her from being able to visit. Because of that, Beverly and I feel an even greater sense of being there for and encouraging Russell over the last eight years we've been writing and visiting him. And with Russell now being a year away from his parole eligibility, we feel an even greater sense and need to continue being there and encouraging him.

Russell thinks and talks a lot now about being paroled and being able to enter the "free world." Now that he has G2 status again, he's gotten a job working in the chow hall, and is understanding the value of hard work and consistency. He is even about to sign up for a vocational course in either HVAC or carpentry. When he completes the course, the prison has a little "graduation" ceremony, and Bev told Russell that we will definitely be there. He just looked at us and said, "You two would come for that?" We just looked at him, smiled, and said, "Of course we would...we wouldn't miss it."

Russell told us that when he makes parole, he doesn't want to take anything with him from prison, except his mail and pictures. Since we have already told Russell that we'll be there when he makes parole, he asked us if we could take him to get new clothes. Bev and I just grinned and told him that yes, we'll take him to get new clothes. I imagine after all these years of only wearing white elastic pants and a white shirt, he's pretty excited to one day (hopefully soon) put a pair of jeans on. It's funny the small things we take for granted living in the free world, but we also know that not having those small freedoms is the consequence of choices made. 

After about an hour and a half into our visit, Russell had to excuse himself to use the restroom. While he was gone, one of the guards walked over to the prisoner who was seated next to us to tell him that his visitation time was up. The prisoner's guests got up, hugged him, then walked to the exit. Once a prisoner's guests have left, the prisoner must remain at the picnic table until a guard comes to escort them back to their cell. This prisoner was getting ready to leave when he stood up and introduced himself to Beverly and I. We introduced ourselves back, and then he told us that he knows Russell and that they have shared a cell block several times throughout their years in prison and have gotten to know each other well. He then looked at us and said, "I want to say thank you both for what you're doing for him. I can't begin to tell you what that means to us in here. Russell talks about how his former teachers come to visit him in prison, and it's nice to finally meet you two." We thanked "Gio" and then told him that our time with Russell has been just as wonderful for us. Russell came back soon after and we had a terrific remainder of our visit with him, until the guard came to tell us our time was up. We hugged Russell, told him we love him, and we'll write and see him again soon. 

Bev and I will continue on this journey with Russell, keep him in our prayers, and of course look forward to more times of great conversation...and a picnic table. 

Hope

Seven years ago when Beverly and I first reached out to Russell and then traveled to New Boston, TX for our initial visit with him, we knew our relationship with (a then) 18 year old Russell would continue well beyond a two hour "behind the glass" visit.  We realized then that we were in it for the long haul.  We were truly invested in this kid we had grown to love since he was 12 years old and a student in our English and Reading classes.

Russell first entered prison, charged as an adult, when he was 15.  He just celebrated his 25th birthday on June 2nd and has now spent 40% of his life behind bars.  He is eligible for parole for the first time on February 19, 2020, which means he will have served half his sentence and be 27 years old.  Typically prisoners with his conviction don't make parole the first time, but there is a hope we hold in our hearts that he possibly will.  See, the longer Russell spends in prison, the more difficult (Bev and I feel) it will be for him to acclimate in the free world.  Having entered prison at 15, charged as an adult, has made Russell grow up pretty fast.  He mentioned this when we visited with him on Sunday. 

Russell doesn't normally talk about parole, but I suppose since it's now not that far off in the future, he is starting to think about it more and more.  Beverly and I always try to be real and very honest with Russell about the likelihood of him making parole this first time, but to be truthful, we hope he does.  Russell mentioned how different he is now that he's 25 and has been in prison the last ten years.  He talked about how he didn't know anything at 15, but sure thought he did, and how now he realizes how much time affects maturity and decisions made.  I had mentioned in my previous blog how Beverly and I were waiting for Russell to make it to G2 status so he could join us at the picnic table and we could finally have a contact visit.  Well, he did make it, and it was absolutely wonderful to be able to hug him and sit with him and visit without a glass barrier in between us.  Unfortunately our picnic table time was short lived, because Russell ended up getting into trouble and got his G2 status revoked, so for our last two visits, we were back to visiting him behind glass.

There always seem to be setbacks in prison; setbacks that are typically self-induced because of poor choices, idle time, and sadness.  This is what seems to get Russell into trouble, and why we haven't made it back to the picnic table yet.  One thing I can tell you is that when Russell does mess up, he cannot stand to let us know out of fear we will be so disappointed.  And I'm not going to lie, Beverly and I get very disappointed with Russell at times when he messes up, but one thing he knows for sure is that we never love him any less.  Because Russell has never had consistency in his life, I can imagine there is a fear that we will give up on and abandon him just like the majority of adults he's had in his life, but no matter how busy our lives get with grandbabies, work or school commitments, when we see Russell, we remind him that we aren't going anywhere, that regardless of the situation or the occasional setbacks, he's stuck with us. 

Last Sunday during our visit, Beverly got up to go get Russell another drink from the vending machine.  When she returned and put the phone back to her ear, Russell said to us, "I just want to thank you again for all you have done for me Mrs. Barfield and Ms. Edmunds.  You two are all I have, and I love and appreciate you."  The feeling is definitely mutual.  Russell has become a part of Bev and I.  We love this guy beyond words and have a positive hope for his future.  We know it won't be easy, and that Russell will need a strong support system and guidance when he does make parole, but  Bev and I are committed to him, and we are all three on this journey together.  

So, there is still work to be done, time to continue to be served, and most importantly...hope.

Deep Breath

My how it's been a long time since I blogged about our journey with Russell! Not because we don't have anything to share or things haven't happened since the last post, but really more because life and all its scheduled commitments have a tendency of getting in the way.

Beverly and I made a pact with each other when we first reconnected with Russell, that we would make sure to visit him at least three times a year. Once in August before school starts, once at Christmas time, and always on or around his birthday on June 2. This was our annual birthday trip to visit Russell, since his birthday is Monday and he turns 22. Remember he's been in prison since he was 15, so he's creeping up on seven years so far behind bars. Seven years and many more to go.

It took a while to actually get through security to see him because their computer system was down, which made them have to do everything by hand. When a guard has to look up your name on the printed out visitor list and make a phone call to the main visitor station, it takes a bit longer. Once we got through the first check point and made our way across the barbed wire walkway and into the second check-in station, we handed the guard our driver's licenses and they gave us Russell's printed visitor sheet that shows everyone who is on his visitor list, the dates he has had visitors, and his current "status." If you remember when we first got back in contact with Russell almost four years ago, he was in segregation. That means he was in an isolated cell with no roommate, couldn't go outside during recreation time, and when he had visitors, had to be brought to another individual cell, handcuffed. I'll be honest, but that was always difficult for Beverly and I to watch.

In prison, it's all about your level status, and the status any prisoner (I hope) wants to reach is what is called G1/G2. At this level, you can have physical contact visits with family members, make phone calls, work to make some money, and at times enjoy some nice treats from the commissary. When prisoners get to have physical contact visits, they occur at little picnic tables situated throughout the inside of the visitation area, as well as outside where a prisoner and his visitor can enjoy some sunshine. After visiting Russell in segregation many times, we told him we were sick of him being in seg, so it didn't take long for him to make G4 status. He actually wrote and told us he had a surprise for us, but wanted to tell us in person, so the time we went to visit him for our surprise, it took us a little while to figure it out. It wasn't until the guard told us what number section to sit in and we actually sat down, that we realized we weren't sitting in the small segregation visitation cell area. Beverly and I just looked at each other and let out a scream and yelled, "He's not in segregation...that's our surprise!" When Russell came walking down on his own with no handcuffs, we screamed again! He just smiled and said, "Surprise!" We knew Russell was on a great path to improving himself and his time behind bars. Not long after that, we got a letter from him telling us he made G2 status, which meant we were definitely on the right path to making it to the picnic tables!

Today when we took his visitor sheet to hand it to the guards at our final check in station, we noticed it said G4. That could only mean that Russell did something to get in trouble and get his G2 status revoked. When Russell finally came down to sit at our station and we all picked up the phone, the first thing he said was, "I got into some trouble and I'm G4 again." Because Beverly and I keep on Russell to make good choices all the time, he always gets embarrassed to tell us when he messes up. And he always apologizes to us. We asked him what happened, so he told us. Every now and then, the guards will do a sweep of the prisoners' cells, and when they do, it isn't done very neatly. When they came in to sweep Russell's cell, they ended up throwing his clothes over the railing, where they landed on the concrete floor three stories below. This didn't make Russell very happy, so he decided to go running down the stairs to retrieve his clothes, but when he did, a female guard, who was in front of him, thought Russell was charging at her, so she whipped our her pepper spray and gave him a few squirts. Russell swears he was just rushing down the stairs to get his clothes, and kept repeating to us that he would never hurt a girl. Bev and I believe Russell, but what we expressed to him is that if someone doesn't know him, they would definitely think he is scary and capable of doing harm because of the way he looks. Because of that incident, Russell spent two weeks in solitary confinement and lost his G2 status. He tried to fight the charge and get it dropped, but they denied it. Beverly and I explained to Russell that he has to get a grip on his emotions because regardless of what he thinks is "fair" or whether or not he actually did what he is (or might be) accused of, he will never win in there. We told him that the next time something like that happens, and it probably will, he just needs to take a deep breath and give himself some time to get his emotions in check. A moment of anger or what Russell deems fair or unfair, isn't worth losing what he's worked so hard to accomplish. He promised it wouldn't happen again, and when he comes up for G2 status in October and gets it, he'll make sure to not let it go.

We really had a great visit. Despite a setback and some disappointment, Russell is still on a much better path than when he first entered the system. All he needs to focus on now is taking some deep breaths...and a picnic table.

Russell's Advice

     As teachers, we don't go into this profession blindly; we know it is a calling and a career that is not meant for everyone. We are education warriors hoping to impact the lives of students each year. It isn't always easy and we aren't always successful in making sure our students turn out okay, but what matters the most is that we care about them, we love them, and we try to make a difference.

     Beverly and I, and the other teachers Russell had during his time in middle school, all tried to do just that. Despite all of our efforts, our plans didn't end up saving him.   

     I told you in my last blog, I decided to ask Russell that if he could give any advice to kids like him who frequent my office and have similar home lives like he had, what would he say to them? I told him about a student at my campus who reminds me a lot of him, and it is my hope that when she leaves our school, she turns out okay. I wasn't sure how or if he would have any advice, but his reply proved otherwise. I won't retype his entire letter, but here is Russell's advice to kids:

"I think that you could help her by showing her that you care. I think that she's angry because of her home life & doesn't get enough love. I think that you should keep talking to her. Maybe pull her out to see how she's doing. I don't know, but if you just talk to her when she's getting in trouble, she might think that's the only time that y'all can talk about things. She's 14, still real young, so it could be who's she's chilling with. I would never admit it to my mom when she said it, but friends influence each other. I chilled with older cats & my brain was like a sponge, soakin up the game. Part of it could be from her just wanting to be accepted, you know? If I could give some advice to her or kids like her I would say...that one day they'll regret all of these things that they're doing now. Stay in school because that's the foundation they'll build their adult lives on. These days you can't do anything without at least a GED. I would tell them to stay out of the streets. Go to the Rec, get involved with sports, or anything that will keep them busy. I'd tell them that one day if they don't change the path they're taking, they'll be where I'm at. I had a bad home life, but I know that if I would've stayed out of the streets & kept playing football, I wouldn't be here. I hope that they do stay out of trouble, because I don't want to see anyone in here, especially when it could be avoided.

     No, as teachers we can't save them all, but we can sure try!

A Summer Letter

With a new school year comes new change and new hope. It's been a while since the last blog because I started the school year out with new change as an assistant principal. Beverly started the new school year with the chance to watch her precious granddaughter one day a week. With our new change, we realized it would take a while before we were able to get to Abilene for a visit with Russell, so in the meantime, we continued writing him. Bev and I always look forward to getting a letter from Russell, and when we do, we immediately call each other to share it. The following letter is one I couldn't wait to share with her.

In Russell's own words, here is his summer letter:

Mrs. Edmunds,

     Hey! I just got your letter with the pictures tonite, (6.14.12), & I just barely got Mrs. Barfield's card yesterday. The mail room is real slow here & they are not supposed to hold onto our mail for more than 24 hours, but they do anyway, so I'm sorry it's taken a few to send you a reply letter. I wrote Mrs. Barfield right after the visit, & I wanted to write you too, but I didn't have your address before now." If you remember in my last blog, Russell was transferred to a prison in West Texas, so three bags of his personal belongings were left behind, which had some of his addresses in it. He now has those belongings back, which is good. He goes on to ask us what type of drawings we like because he would like to do something for Bev and I, and he wonders if we have seen any books around "with drawings in there like tattoo art?" He continues, "I need a book like that. See I draw in pencil, but I can't draw things straight out of my head. I need to be able to see it. I've got some good ideas, but when I try to do it straight out of my mind, it doesn't look right, & drawing's something that I really want to learn how to do." He then goes on to tell us about the types of things he enjoys drawing and is getting better at and asks if we know about any books that might help him. Russell then says, "IDK (I don't know) but I want to send something to show appreciation for what y'all have been doing for me. Like I told Mrs. Barfield in the letter I wrote yesterday, I feel like since y'all have stepped in, that things have been going good for me. Y'all brought happiness & some kind of peace into my life. It was more for y'all than me that I got out of "seg," because I was getting sort of comfortable back there. I was gonna get out eventually, but before y'all came, I was just doing my time. I wasn't getting in trouble out there, but I was really just adjusting to life in "seg" and that's not good. I never want to feel comfortable in here at all, because I'm not "institutionalized." I hurt inside because I know that I left good people & good things out there in the free world. I'm building a "support team" in here that started with you & Mrs. Barfield, & it makes me feel good & like I'm loved and cared for. The only person I had when I 1st came down was Ronnie (a man who mentored Russell when he was still at TCJC), & he's been a good friend, but he wasn't just "there." The feeling I have with you & Mrs. Barfield isn't something I've experienced before, & all these different factors that have been going for me for the last 4 months have been things that have kept me on my toes, because I care for all of y'all that have been keeping it real with me, and I don't want to hurt or disappoint y'all." I think the line that tugged at Bev and I the most is when he said that what he has with us isn't something he's ever experienced before. Russell should have experienced that. Every child deserves to experience that. If anything, we are just glad he's experiencing it now, even if it's at the age of 20.

     Before school ended of this particular year, several of us at NRMS participated in the Warrior Dash in honor of one of our beloved teachers battling a brain tumor. I sent Russell some pictures from the race. He said, "So what exactly was the mud dash? Is it a race in the mud? I thought y'all were crazy in that picture! LOL! :) I saw it and said, "Man, what is this?" & busted out laughing! I thought it was cool though, & I'm glad y'all had so much fun. It was in Mrs. Worrell's name & that made it even better. Once the school year ended, me, Bev, Robin, and Barbara went on our little annual girls' trip. This time it was to Hot Springs, AR where we did some sightseeing and participated in a mineral hot bath. Barbara and I absolutely hated it, and by the time we got in the car to head back to Fort Worth, I had the most horrible headache. I told Russell about how it was supposed to be so wonderful, and I guess it was for Beverly and Robin, but Barbara and I truly found it quite torturous! Russell said, "So, how does that water flow from the mountain in Hot Springs? Does it come from like a hole & flow into a pool type thing, or is it with pipes & all that? I probably would've liked it because I'm cold & always loved hotter weather. I don't like the cold because it messes with my hands & ankles. Maybe I have arthritis." Bev and I just had to laugh at that one! "I just don't know. Maybe you had a headache because of that mineral bath."

     Well, thank you so much for the pictures and the card! :) I can't wait to see y'all again. I've still been staying out of trouble. I hope to hear from y'all soon. Take it easy & drive safe. God Bless!

Sincerely,
Russell A. Dow


Beverly and I journeyed to West Texas before this school year began. At the time, I hadn't yet gotten my new job as an assistant principal. After I got the job, I wrote to Russell to let him know how the job was going, and to ask him if he had any advice to give to the kids who frequent my office, and in some instances, have home lives similar to what Russell had. In the latest letter I got from him, Russell did share some rather poignant advice to help kids from tough situations not end up where he is.

I'll share that with you soon.

A Birthday Visit

I have never been one to eagerly embrace change. I am comfortable with what I know, and in that comfort I find peace, and all is right with my world. I realize change is necessary at times though too, so when Beverly called me one day to tell me that she received a letter from Russell saying he had been moved to a new prison, we both had to refocus our perspectives on how this change could be good for him and us.

Being the positive people we are, Beverly and I worked hard to build relationships with the guards at the previous prison Russell was in. We made this happen with smiles, stories, laughter, and of course some delicious cupcakes we brought to them on one visit. We dreaded having to start the entire process again as we journeyed to West Texas, this time for our visit with Russell on June 2, his 20th birthday. 

When we arrived, we excitedly greeted the new guards with our warm, genuine smiles and bubbly personalities. The guard asked us who we were there to visit and what his number was. We told him we were teachers visiting a former student, and that he had been recently moved from a prison in Northeast Texas to this new one. We then had to pop the hood and the trunk and get out of the car so they could search it. Once that was over, we found a parking spot, got our change in hand, and headed to the entrance. We always try to dress pretty nice (but casual) when we visit Russell, and we also know there is a dress code for visitors too. I was wearing a white tank top with a gray and white striped shirt with sleeves over it. You know the kind, right? So when the guard asked me if my outer shirt was attached to my tank, I gladly showed him that it wasn't, not thinking much about it and wondering why he was asking me. To our surprise, he quickly told me that I couldn't wear that shirt and we couldn't see Russell until I found something else to put on. Being two and a half hours away from Ft. Worth and not at all close to the nearest Walmart, we started panicking when the guard told us we could go to the hospitality house around the corner and they would provide a shirt I could wear. We hurriedly got back into the car and found our way to the house. 

Me in the lovely "clown shirt" outside the prison

Once inside the house, we met a precious lady named Yogi. We told her who we were and who we were visiting and that the guard sent us to her to get a different shirt for me to wear. She went to the back of the room and brought back a shirt. I referred to it as the "clown shirt" the rest of the visit as it was rather hideous, but beggars can't be choosers, so I thanked Yogi for letting me borrow it.    

She told us about the prison mission work she and her husband do. The hospitality house is their personal home, but it also provides lodging and food for those visiting a prisoner who live 300 or more miles away and cannot afford to stay at a hotel. Yogi said they have one lady who travels every weekend from El Paso to visit her husband. 

Once again, it's amazing the "road blocks" God provides for us at times. Because of my dress code violation and that "clown shirt," we have now made a connection with this wonderful woman, and she has added Russell's name to a mentor group for prisoners organized by her church.


When we finally got inside the prison, we were told where to go and that the guards would get Russell for us. The anticipation is always emotional when we are waiting to see him, but on this day it was even more so because it was his birthday. About five minutes passed when they finally brought Russell to us. The tough guy persona that is Russell in prison quickly disappears when he sees us. His eyes light up and this beautiful smile covers his face...especially when we shouted, "Happy Birthday!" I wish you all could see it. We thought since he was no longer in segregation he wouldn't be handcuffed when they brought him to us; however, he is at the bottom of the ladder, known as G5 status, and will remain that way for the next six months. So as long as he's a G5, they will bring him to us handcuffed and will take him from us handcuffed. When the six months is over, he will be free of the cuffs and will no longer have to remain in a little cage type room during our visits. We'll still be separated from him by glass, but he'll be in a more open area. We keep trying to encourage him to continue up the ladder so one day we can visit with him at the picnic tables, free from a glass partition. 


Our visit was really nice. We talked about the move and asked him how he found out he was being relocated. He said they told him the night before and that he needed to pack his belongings. He was only able to take one bag on the bus; the others he had to leave behind to be shipped later. He is still waiting for his other two bags. Beverly and I laughed as Russell told us that because it had been over two years since he had been in a vehicle, he got pretty car sick on the way to the new prison. He told us he wasn't excited about moving at first, but he has been adjusting and liking it pretty well. The food is better in this new prison and now he has a roommate. In a letter Beverly got from Russell soon after this visit, he shared with her how he learned that his roommate doesn't know how to read or write. Russell told Beverly that he is teaching him and asked if she knew of any phonics books that might help. Russell also said he hopes that teaching his roommate how to read and write is (in a small a way) how he can begin giving back to society.


Beverly and I also asked Russell about meeting with the Ad Seg board when his time in segregation was about to be over and it was to be decided if he was ready to return to population. He told us that he was taken in a room where he stood in front of the warden, assistant warden, and a sheriff. They asked him, "Why should we allow you to be in population? What have you done that shows you are ready to return?" Russell's response was genuine, and I think true as to what love can do to hearts in need. He said, "As long as I've been doing my time, I never really had a need to change, but now I have people who care about me and believe in me, and I want to do better for them." I guess those three people standing in front of Russell that day could see the change too, because they granted his request to return. 


Bev and I see it too. We see it when his smile lights up his face upon seeing us, and we see it in the sincere, "Thank you for coming to see me" we get when they tell us our time is up and we have to say goodbye. 

It has taken time, trust, and faith to get where we are today. We know we still have a long way to go with Russell, but we also know his heart, even if in a small way, is beginning to soften. Perhaps that's what happens when you know you are loved.

New Beginnings

     I love spring. I love the newness of the season, the blooming of the flowers, the sun staying out later. I love that school is almost over and the freedom of summer is within reach. It's also in this season that Beverly and I were hoping to get some pretty great news from Russell. News that we've been waiting for since we first reached out to him in September, and news he's been waiting for even longer.

Again, in his own words, is Russell's letter:

Mrs. Barfield,

"Hey, how's the wind blowing? (lol) Man I'm doing really good actually! Sorry you haven't heard from me in a few, but changes are in the making. (lol) Well one reason you haven't heard from me is because I have been waiting on the state classification committee to come from Huntsville. I thought they would come early in the month, but they didn't come until the end! (lol) On the 28th actually! But Yes! After 2 long years they voted to let me out to Population! :) I'm still in seg. right now, until all the paper work gets through to Huntsville so that'll take about 1 1/2 weeks but once that goes thru I'm going straight to 8 bldg. "G5". It's the bottom of the barrel, I have to work my way up, but it's cool with me." 
     On February 10, one of our precious and most beloved teachers was diagnosed with a brain tumor. In her last letter, Beverly told Russell about Judy and asked him to keep her in his prayers. We thought he would want to know since Judy taught Russell, even if it was for a short time. This next part of his letter just melted our hearts.

"Another reason is that I was sad when I heard about what happened to Mrs. Worrell! :(  How is she by the way? Well I have been trying, since forever to mail out a handkerchief with a "Get well soon" drawing on it but the "property lady" hasn't come by? :(  See, we can't mail big art work out thru regular mail channels, it has to go thru the Property, then the mail room. So as soon as I can get her to come by, I'll send it to you, so you can give it to her when it's convenient. Please keep it a secret till then, because I want it to be a surprise!" Jennifer, Alicia, and Sara...if you read this, don't tell your mom about Russell's "surprise" okay? :) Russell goes on to ask Beverly about the wedding she went to, and asks her if she saw any wildflowers. He tells her that he's been working on his drawing and is working with pencil. My husband, Jim has a friend who spent time in prison, and his art work is simply phenomenal! He says it's really rather easy to pick up and learn when you have a lot of time on your hands. I imagine Russell will become very good at it over the course of his years spent there. Russell's letter came right after the metroplex was hit with all of those tornadoes, so he asks, "Did you believe all those tornadoes that ripped thru DFW yesterday? It was storming bad over here. Real bad thunder & lightening! How is Mrs. Edmunds? Tell her "Hi" for me."
     This last part of his letter, albeit something small, ended up being a big joy for Bev and I. "Would it be possible to take a picture next time y'all visit? I don't think I'll be wearing a jumpsuit any longer. It'll be a 2 piece, if I'm not mistaken. I'm not sure how it is in G5, but I know population G4-G1- does. Well, I guess that's all for now. I hope y'all are okay and everything's allright! God bless & happy Easter."

Much love,
Russell A. Dow

So, life is pretty good right now. Spring is in the air, the flowers are indeed in bloom, the sun still shines into the late evening...and Russell no longer has to wear a jumpsuit.

Until next time.