I just received a two-year set off for parole – after living in this place called prison for twenty-five years.  The reason? Nature Of Offense.

I accept that.  Three times I’ve been set off for ‘Nature of Offense’ – something I cannot change. Something that will never change. The ONLY thing I am capable of changing is myself – not what got me here.  And, that is what I have done over the last twenty five years.  I have become smarter, better suited for whatever happens along the way, and more patient. The system has failed to make a criminal out of me.

I just witnessed a very fortunate offender that has been granted parole have a melt down in front of me because he was in the back of the insulin line. It wasn’t just your typical ‘impatient’ meltdown.  It was a total ‘I’ll kick you dead in your ass’ meltdown.  This is the third time here for this parolee. He’s been incarcerated three times.  And he’s four days from rejoining you, the taxpaying citizens in the world.

I’m happy he’s going home, really I am.  But I’m very unhappy that I’ve been ready to go home for quite a while now, and I’m still here. The guy going home – he argues over whether the sky is blue or not, creates chaos wherever he goes, and – in my opinion – he’s not ready to go to church, let alone the streets of whatever city he’s going to.  But, if history is any indicator, he’ll be back before I come up again.

The ‘system’ decided to let him go home.   Why not me?  Frustration sets in and I’m sad, but I can’t let it make me upset. I have to focus. It’s hard though – especially when you know in your heart that you’re ready.  You are ready and so many others who are paroled are not. So I’ll go to sleep and dream – it is the only place I can go where the rules are fair.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR  Beginning to feel a little less ‘Shipwrecked, Abandoned, and Misunderstood’.   In spite of 25 years behind bars, John Green continues to wake up every day holding on to his humanity and on a mission to change the world for the better.

John Green #671771
C.T. Terrell Unit A150
1300 FM655
Rosharon, TX 77583