Running late this morning. Not too many slow-downs on Route 128. Beautiful, sunny day and thank heaven, we have not had any snow! I arrive at the prison at noon and sit with the ‘regulars’ in the waiting area; we chat… brothers, moms, dads, wives, and friends. There is a mutual understanding of the painful experiences, expense and disappointments which are a given when your loved one is in prison. Most are anxious to share the perils of the systems that lead their loved ones to be incarcerated for long periods of time. They all have the Joe Donovan brochure and we share emails and information.
I look forward to buying lunch from the vending machines. It is such a little thing to do for Joe. The ice cream machine hardly ever works, and it is often out of product. DARN, I’m going to write to the DOC commissioner and suggest they contract with another vendor. I go through ‘the trap’/security at 1:00 and wait until 1:45 before Joe arrives in the visiting room. I snagged salad and fruit, but there is no ice cream or yogurt which he enjoys in place of ice cream. Managed to find two grilled ham and cheese sandwiches that he loves. Finally found a tuna sandwich on white (yuk) bread for me.
Joey interacts with a hello and smile to visitors and inmates sitting around us in the visiting room. We talk about our families, the weather and the descriptions he must write to accompany the drawings he will submit to an art contest. He has questions for me — did I mail the portrait he drew to the family? Did I send him copies for his portfolio? Yes, I did! (and insured it, too.) I regale him with stories about my dear Aunt Irene who is 92, and in a nursing home. We can’t believe the things she says, but then we never could! She is quick witted and hysterically funny.
I’m so proud of JOE!!!! He wrote a letter and agreed to an interview with Norway TV2 at the prison, but only if the Raustein family agreed to it. He didn’t want to bring back painful memories for them. He is a sensitive and caring young man.
On Saturday, he is going to make the evening meal for inmate friends, cooking minute rice, pepperoni or smoked meat, spices, hot sauce, honey and whatever else inmates give him for the cooking pot. Many of the inmates have told me what a great cook he is, managing with so little.
Time passes quickly today and when the trap is open at 3:30, Joe gives me a hug and I start my trek southward to home.
