In the letter below, Chris writes to me, struggling with what we are doing. I too am trying to find a way to help Chris at the same time keeping up my obligations in my life. We haven't yet even spoken on the phone, though that is the plan next week. Here, to be transparent, I am posting what we are both struggling with though we are not able to efficiently communicate. At least not yet. This is why my visit to Seattle in April is important to us both.
-------------------------------------------------------------
9 March 11
Dear Anne,
I'm going to procrastinate saying this for just a minute. I'm not sure if I slept through lunch, so I'm going to take a lap and on the other side of the triangle I'll see the clock on the pillar. We need to talk about the direction of the blog more directly and more firmly agree on where it's going. I'm dissatisfied with it and am disconnecting. My intention has been to produce a short work. I do not want every unpolished word published, in thinking aloud, because like song artists who get robbed for putting up their tunes, so I will defeat the purpose I secretly had. So I'm surfacing it and expressing my inner conflict at the same time.
I need you. I care for you but the truth is, I don't know a wink about you. We have forged a pseudo loving relationship on the pretext of my witness to close the SOA. Because you know they world in a different way I have not written you much about the science of nonviolence or the minutiae of wrong about the SOA. Our common ground seemed to me to stem from the shared experience of the Lenten prayer group, and more profoundly from knowing God personally through the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. Now, my dissatisfaction organically stems from my restlessness as a person without health insurance or more than $200 in my bank account, a BA and a Catholic worker house to hang my little hopes on of selling some writings in hopes of aiding souls.
Yet also, here, now, away from daily Mass my relationship with God has continued to develop. I just keep writing for the sake of our commitment even though I don't know what that means. I'll try not to keep secret my experience here. For your partner here wants you to be empowered in this relationship. I trust you to find with me the nuggets for wider consumption. I fear not knowing how much p9ower you have and I'm anxious to be able to look over your shoulder.
Chris
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Visiting Chris in Seattle
Hey guys!
Here's the story on visitors: visiting days are Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. Of those days, Chris is allowed to have visitors on the even days of the month. So for example, the first weekend of April Chris could have visitors on Saturday, April 2 or Monday, April 4. But there are some things about it:
If you want to go visit him, the best thing to do would be to write him a letter telling him that you would like to visit. He will then send you a form. You two also can work out via the mail when the best time to visit is.
If you do go visit, please keep me in the loop so I can post an update to the community!
Thank you, blessings,
anne
Here's the story on visitors: visiting days are Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. Of those days, Chris is allowed to have visitors on the even days of the month. So for example, the first weekend of April Chris could have visitors on Saturday, April 2 or Monday, April 4. But there are some things about it:
- You have to fill out a form and provide 2 or 3 forms of ID. It takes maybe 7 - 10 days to process. Once you submit the form and it is processed, you receive an approval letter from the prison.
- Chris can only receive 1 visitor a day so you have to be sure that no one else is scheduled to see Chris.
- You must MUST be on time to a visit....not even one minute late.
If you want to go visit him, the best thing to do would be to write him a letter telling him that you would like to visit. He will then send you a form. You two also can work out via the mail when the best time to visit is.
If you do go visit, please keep me in the loop so I can post an update to the community!
Thank you, blessings,
anne
Sending Books to Chris in SeaTac FDC
Hey all,
One of Chris' friends Jim did us all a favor and called the prison to find out about sending books to Chris. Jim reported that "the man who answered said the prison will accept a book if it comes from a bookstore with the bookstore's return address on the envelope and as long as it is not hardcover." Thanks for the update, Jim!
So, you can send books from smaller booksellers. I would still be safe and send one to Chris to make sure it gets thru before sending a whole bunch. From others I have heard that sometimes a particular prison might not be consistent with it's policy.
See a list of books Chris would like at the very bottom of the blog.
Peace
anne
One of Chris' friends Jim did us all a favor and called the prison to find out about sending books to Chris. Jim reported that "the man who answered said the prison will accept a book if it comes from a bookstore with the bookstore's return address on the envelope and as long as it is not hardcover." Thanks for the update, Jim!
So, you can send books from smaller booksellers. I would still be safe and send one to Chris to make sure it gets thru before sending a whole bunch. From others I have heard that sometimes a particular prison might not be consistent with it's policy.
See a list of books Chris would like at the very bottom of the blog.
Peace
anne
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Update from Mom
Well, Chris' parents Marti and Dave finally got to visit with Chris for the first time since he was incarcerated in January. They drove to Seattle Federal Detention Center on Sunday and had a lovely 2 and 1/2 hour visit with Chris. His mom says that she was able to actually hug Chris --there was no glass between them. They were able to sit down together and a have an uninterrupted very quality visit.
Marti said that Chris looks quite healthy and that he feels safe. He is eating veg food and is able to get a little exercise, but he is never able to get any fresh air and the windows are frosted over so he cannot even look out side. Also, he has a very different situation in SeaTac FDC. Where in Georgia he was in a room with many, here he has one roommate, who he refers to as a celly. I guess it's working out pretty well, they seem to get along okay. He has also been assessed for a job: apparently many of the inmates work jobs within the detention center. He was hoping to get a groundskeeper job just so he could feel the air on his face, but no luck on that one. We stayed tuned to find out where he lands.
As for his time inside, he is feeling a shift in his ministry too. While those couple months in Georgia he really got involved in ministering to his fellow inmates as a ESL teacher and advocate, now he is feeling a drive to really focus on his writing. In fact, he really wants to kick this blog into high gear and he is eager to talk with me about where to go next.
We plan to talk on the telephone soon and I do hope to go visit Chris at the end of April, too, to get my own hug!
Blessings on the road from Atlanta, GA
anne
Marti said that Chris looks quite healthy and that he feels safe. He is eating veg food and is able to get a little exercise, but he is never able to get any fresh air and the windows are frosted over so he cannot even look out side. Also, he has a very different situation in SeaTac FDC. Where in Georgia he was in a room with many, here he has one roommate, who he refers to as a celly. I guess it's working out pretty well, they seem to get along okay. He has also been assessed for a job: apparently many of the inmates work jobs within the detention center. He was hoping to get a groundskeeper job just so he could feel the air on his face, but no luck on that one. We stayed tuned to find out where he lands.
As for his time inside, he is feeling a shift in his ministry too. While those couple months in Georgia he really got involved in ministering to his fellow inmates as a ESL teacher and advocate, now he is feeling a drive to really focus on his writing. In fact, he really wants to kick this blog into high gear and he is eager to talk with me about where to go next.
We plan to talk on the telephone soon and I do hope to go visit Chris at the end of April, too, to get my own hug!
Blessings on the road from Atlanta, GA
anne
Exchange among jailmates
March 2, 2011
Dear Anne:
It felt like 7:30 when in fact it was 10pm lockdown and I had procrastinated from calling. The day went fast, Crow was right: "This is easy time." I sat with him and Buddy to watch Moose and Stan play stratego, since both had beaten me. Buddy and Moose both arrived with me yesterday to the Seattle Federal Transfer Center. Crow and Buddy were talking of Spokane and I asked if, like Buddy, Crow was also from there. No, they knew each other from the Spokane County jail. Each had for their public defender Katie. "If she at least said something [during the trial] I would have felt better," said Crow. He got caught again for re-entry from Canada and this is his first charge. "You're the first person I've met her with re-entry," I said. In fact, he was the first white person I had met, let alone conceived of, who had a re-entry charge. "I know...all the cops were like, 'what?' and the Federal Marshalls, too." Before he had gotten off with warnings but the judge at the trial seemed out to get him. "The recommended sentence [by the prosecuting attorney] was 0-6 months. The judge didn't care. He wanted to give me more until I got on my knees and said 'I've got a family and I'm self-employed. It will never happen again.'"
"After you left," said Buddy, "we got out for a total of three hours in three weeks" and those recreation breaks were fifteen minute bites. "They said the elevators were broken." "There's such a thing as stairs." "They said they couldn't cover them in case fights broke out." "Not that they could do anything to stop them anyway, remember that one?" "Yeah it was over and done with by the time they came," said Buddy. "I don't know how anyone could not learn their lesson. Jail sucks," said Crow.
Chris
Dear Anne:
It felt like 7:30 when in fact it was 10pm lockdown and I had procrastinated from calling. The day went fast, Crow was right: "This is easy time." I sat with him and Buddy to watch Moose and Stan play stratego, since both had beaten me. Buddy and Moose both arrived with me yesterday to the Seattle Federal Transfer Center. Crow and Buddy were talking of Spokane and I asked if, like Buddy, Crow was also from there. No, they knew each other from the Spokane County jail. Each had for their public defender Katie. "If she at least said something [during the trial] I would have felt better," said Crow. He got caught again for re-entry from Canada and this is his first charge. "You're the first person I've met her with re-entry," I said. In fact, he was the first white person I had met, let alone conceived of, who had a re-entry charge. "I know...all the cops were like, 'what?' and the Federal Marshalls, too." Before he had gotten off with warnings but the judge at the trial seemed out to get him. "The recommended sentence [by the prosecuting attorney] was 0-6 months. The judge didn't care. He wanted to give me more until I got on my knees and said 'I've got a family and I'm self-employed. It will never happen again.'"
"After you left," said Buddy, "we got out for a total of three hours in three weeks" and those recreation breaks were fifteen minute bites. "They said the elevators were broken." "There's such a thing as stairs." "They said they couldn't cover them in case fights broke out." "Not that they could do anything to stop them anyway, remember that one?" "Yeah it was over and done with by the time they came," said Buddy. "I don't know how anyone could not learn their lesson. Jail sucks," said Crow.
Chris
Sunday, March 20, 2011
The Man Named Steve
The following is an excerpt from a recent letter of Chris' to me. The names have been changed.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Steve has one month to go before he spends the final sixth measure of his sentence in a halfway house. Already he served 17 months here in echo-Charlie. Once he moved to room 26, now to the corner room, otherwise only out to his work detail or down for a visit, but never once outdoors. "I'm losing it, man," he confessed. He has seen some men leave and later come back. Yes, "for a violation," he said, pausing for effect. "Now we've got some real looneys in here."
He recounted that he had self-surrendered, giving me a hint of the minor weight of his crime, at least an indication that the judge respected his character enough to allow Steve to report to prison of his own volition. In fact, the judge said he wanted to send Steve to Sheridan, OR for participation in a program that would subtract a year from his sentence pursuant completion of 500 hours worked. Unfortunately when he opened his letter of destination, Mike read Seattle Federal Detention Center.
"Hey man, I'm in room 36 if you ever need to blow smoke." That goes without saying for y'all, anne.
love
Chris
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Steve has one month to go before he spends the final sixth measure of his sentence in a halfway house. Already he served 17 months here in echo-Charlie. Once he moved to room 26, now to the corner room, otherwise only out to his work detail or down for a visit, but never once outdoors. "I'm losing it, man," he confessed. He has seen some men leave and later come back. Yes, "for a violation," he said, pausing for effect. "Now we've got some real looneys in here."
He recounted that he had self-surrendered, giving me a hint of the minor weight of his crime, at least an indication that the judge respected his character enough to allow Steve to report to prison of his own volition. In fact, the judge said he wanted to send Steve to Sheridan, OR for participation in a program that would subtract a year from his sentence pursuant completion of 500 hours worked. Unfortunately when he opened his letter of destination, Mike read Seattle Federal Detention Center.
"Hey man, I'm in room 36 if you ever need to blow smoke." That goes without saying for y'all, anne.
love
Chris
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Mom's update on Chris
Chris called last night and sounded very good!!! He says he is now assigned to a cell with one roommate (rather than bunk area for 60) and his "cellmate, Kevin is very nice,well-educated fellow! He says the food portions are more generous and people give him vegies -he's applied for vegie meals. He has gained some welcomed weight.
He says he thinks he's going to stay at FDC Seatac the balance of the time. He doesn't expect to see the sky for 4 more months. The work out area is about the size of 1/2 BB court-60 laps+1 mile but there a few low tech exercise machines so he was able to do a 30 min aerobic ex.He will welcome books and is filling out visitor application forms. Dave and I have sent ours in and hope to be able to see him in 1 week plus! I even got something e-mailed today about an e-mail service to Chris that I registered for and may start soon.
Thanks for your prayers and continued support and communication!
Marti Spicer
He says he thinks he's going to stay at FDC Seatac the balance of the time. He doesn't expect to see the sky for 4 more months. The work out area is about the size of 1/2 BB court-60 laps+1 mile but there a few low tech exercise machines so he was able to do a 30 min aerobic ex.He will welcome books and is filling out visitor application forms. Dave and I have sent ours in and hope to be able to see him in 1 week plus! I even got something e-mailed today about an e-mail service to Chris that I registered for and may start soon.
Thanks for your prayers and continued support and communication!
Marti Spicer
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)