I'd like to hear some stories from those who've been there. I'm interested in knowing what exactly happens on the day someone is to be released from prison.

Did a guard fetch you from your cell or were you suppose to report to R&R at a specific time? What exactly were you given to take home with you? What about the clothes they dress you out in? Were you given those the night before or do they have you change into them shortly before letting you out?

How many other prisoners were there being released on the same day? Were you let out at the gates and suppose to find your own transportation or were you driven to a bus or train station? What kind of vehicle did they transport you in?

Many thanks in advance to anyone and everyone who takes the time to answer this post!

I knew my release date so was ready to go they came at 11pm the night berfore and i had to go thru all of my stuff they noted everything i had with me. I took only my letters home nothing else did i want from that place to have to remember it from. I knew I would never forget it my letters are all that got me thru them. Then you go back to your cell and wait till about 4:30am when they call your name and you drag you commissary bag behind you with all yelling to you good luck and good byes are said. sad to leave so many friends behind that have become family. You then go to the cage and wait for the van to arrive you are dressed out in what clothes your family has sent or you are dressed out in scrubs some fit some look like fat albert but who cares your going home. I was the only one released the day i got out rode with three girls going to the doctor and eye doctor at gatesville. We left hobby at about 6 am arrived at gatesville about 7 there they process you and you sit there waiting for your name to be called saying your family is there all the time waiting for your name to be called to be told they had made a mistake actually one woman was called and told that this had been her second time they did this to her. so then you really are scared to death. Then they call your name you pick up your discharge papers head out the door not knowing if when you get to the gate you are actually going to get out nothing as scary as that, then you hear those gates open and you step out into the free world and get in the vehicle with your family all you want to do is get down the road to know your really free. You may not have someone waiting if not they drop a load off at the bus station across the street is a thrift store where you can change out of the prison clothes and buy you some real ones. The bus staiton will cash your 50 dollar check so you have money. Then your on your own you still feel the hands of prison for many days to come it takes a while to adjust you miss your prison family because no one understands what you ahve gone thru but them no one wants to talk about it they want to act like it didnt happen and you have nothing else to talk about that was your life for how ever long you were there. finally you start to come around and get back to your life only still your in their hands because you have so many rules for parole it feels like it will never end. If I could advise anyone with someone coming out listen to them let them tell you of the things that happen there laugh with them cry with them but let them get it out. then they will adjust alot easier it did happen and they did live thru it and they can't just forget it. This is how texas does it not sure about any where else and this is women not men.

The last day, it was very surreal for me, I don't think it fully kind of sunk in that I was getting released. I didn't sleep very much the last few nights. I had most of my stuff packed the night before, but still had some things to put together, clean up my bedding, and I also had a few odd bods to give away to some of the guys. At morning unlock they came around and told me I had to get my stuff packed and ready to go by 9am. I had a fair chance to say my goodbyes, although I forgot some people *doh* There was another bloke I knew who was getting out the same day, so we were taken up to Reception, where we changed into our court clothes, or whatever we had in storage. A whole lot of paperwork, and a few rubber stamps later, we were taken out to the visiting area, where I - and he - were picked up by our families. Whatever money we had in our trust accounts was given to us in cash - in my case it was a little over $200, and basically that was it. I concur with a lot of what cindergirl said about still feeling in the bonds of prison... It's hard to talk about what prison was like, and even with every thing you share in letters, phone calls, and visits, it is still hard to quantify the experience.

The thing that really hit me hard was the fact that after spending 4 months in jail, I emerged with very little in actual property. I mean, I had a massive sack full of letters, papers, and other things... but really that was it... my life summarised in a blue garbage bag. :P Admittedly I had traded/sold some of the stuff like excess toiletries, my walkman and clock radio, which I had no use for on the outside, but still, it looked pitifully small. :P

Peace....Thanks for sharing. Blessings...

Cindergirl,

THanks for posting that. I thought it was really interesting and insightful to read about how you felt when you got home. I never thought about it the way you put it--how that's all you know to talk about and no one wants to hear it. I'm going to remember that when Brant comes home.

Wow... thanks for taking the time to share your experiences....I would love to here more.

Mel

great thread

I just read this thread and cried, my guy gets out next month and he keeps saying he's more afraid of being on the outside than he is of being inside and I didn't understand and maybe I do a little now, but what is so bad is that even though your out some people treat them like they have to pay for the crime all over again and it breaks my heart. I was asked by my sister the other day how I felt knowing he was coming out and I said I felt scared and like a school girl on her first date all at the same time and she didn't understand. I guess to me he's just my Guy and what ever he's done he's already paid for it and life has to go on. Love doesn't stop just cuz your Guy get's locked up.

Thanks so much to both of you that shared you stories! I am glad that you are here to share... CONGRATUALTIONS AND GOOD LUCK! :)

Well I did'nt sleep for about the whole week before. I have been through it twice and each time the night before was the longest night of my life, the second being just a couple minutes longer. I stood there staring at the printer off the computer in the CO's cage waiting for my "send to release" pass to come up for about an hour the first time before they made me go away and the second time I did'nt torture myself that way. Both times my boyfriend picked me up and we got some good food, a six pack and went...home.:D

My release was pretty crazy and a little differant than most.To begin with,I went in at 17 and got out at 26.Alot had changed.My dad and step mom picked me up,they had never visited me so that was sort of hard.Also,I had spent my last two years in solitary confinement and was released from that cell.They cut my hair and made me shave before I was allowed to leave.I remember the whole process took forever.I asked my dad to drive straight to Michigan as fast as he could.It was nice to see the "now leaving fLA." sign.I had also been through a capital murder trial just before release.A guard and an inmate had killed an inmate in the bunk next to me and I was charged as a way to cover it up.The case was all over the news and T.V. and the administration was very concerned about my release.They made alot of threats about keeping my mouth shut and how I should just be glad to be alive and to not look back.Col. Jackson was very nasty about the whole thing.Once I got to Mi. my PO told my parents that I would,nt last two weeks on the outside because I went in so young and stayed too long.He told them I would,nt be able to handle things out here and that they should be prepared for me to go back.When I got out I freeked.I didn,t come outside of my dads house for almost a year.I remember going to a gas station just around the corner from my dads house to get some smokes.It was only a minute walk but I ran back to the house.A neighbor girl saw that and new me.She cried when she saw my reaction to being out of the house and came over to talk to me later that day.She started taking me outside with her.First for a ride in her car,then for walks.She got me out in public with her,like going to the mall,etc. It took a long time but she hung in there with me.I,ll never forget her for that.If it wasn,t for her,I don,t know how I would have made it.I,m 6 ft. 8 in. tall and people would stare at me everywhere I went.It was also in a small town and I stuck out like a sore thumb.It was like I had a sign on my head that said excon.Thats how I felt.

I knew my release date. So the morning of, They called my name over the loud speaker to roll up. I was already packed, took just my letters and pictures and left my clothes, food and whatever else to people in there. Went to R&R, dressed out, they went through my things, Did paperwork, took forever. It was so exlirating and nervous. I had been in for the first time ever and was in 2 years. My mom, grandma and now 4 year old daughter picked me up. When I drove in my car when I got home, I saw a cop, and immediatly pulled over jumped out of my car. I got my drivers license back in pre-release, but did not have the hard copy yet so I was scared as all heck. My mom was laughing her *** off. I do now. It was hard at first I just knew everyone knew I was in prison, and lost self confidence. And I relapsed a couple of times. Got in a bad marriage, which 10 years later I am trying to finish this divorce before he gets out. But I did 3 years parole, I was a violent offender. That was oh my, Jan 25 1993 I was arrested, 4 days before my little girl turned 2, and here soon she will be 15. I chose not to go back, I chose not to be a quitter, I chose to get a life. It was not easy, and it took years, lots of disappointments and going with out. But I NEVER QUIT!!!! I now have a certificate of rehabilitation and next year I can apply for a pardon. You should never give up. I fought hard and still do everyday to be better, I still struggle with finances, I am a survivor and I WILL make it.

My release's specific timing wasn't known to me until the night before -- I called my wife as usual, and she gave me the good news that the 3rd Circuit had ordered my immediate release on a partially successful appeal. We wasted a lot of time on the phone until the phones were shut off that night. In between calls, I let some appropriate folks around the unit know. Got a lot of attaboys from my friends.

I went back to my cube and packed. Gave away a lot of stuff, packed the rest carefully into my grey storage box. Chatted with my buddies. Put aside enough clothes to put on the next day, went to bed.

Got up, waited until 9am, started calling my attorneys as my wife told me to, learned that they were putting the machinery into motion so as to give formal notice to the prison that I was due to leave. They made the necessary calls because by about 10am, I was getting called to assorted offices to sign exit paperwork.

Noonish, called to lieutenant's office with my linens, uniforms, and personal effects (grey box). A couple friends helped me carry stuff. Gave them both big hugs and walked out of the FSL gate for the last time. Had to walk up to the main FCI admin building for final papework. Wife met me at the admin building door, exchanged a thoroughly intense kiss until the CO said we had better get on with it.

Took most of an hour from then to go back into R&D, sign more paperwork, get some of the admin COs to sign off on my departure, final check of prison stuff I was turning in. Had to wait in a corridor for a bit because someone was unavailable that needed to sign off.

Finally headed back out of R&D to admin, stopped by cashier's office to get the remains of my commissary account cashed out to me, $150 or so. Then out to the front door and my wife and the real world. Out the door, over to her car, she handed me the keys and away we went.

We were home half an hour later (20 miles exactly, their parking lot to our driveway).

Met our daughter at the door, looked around the house and yard that I hadn't seen in 20 months. Sat and chatted together for a bit. Called attorney to find out exactly what my status was, knowing that the appeal was not yet complete, had to find out if I was under any restrictions -- I wasn't, not even travel outside the area.

Then we kicked our daughter out of the bedroom and took some private time. :grin:

That was 11 months ago...

God prison and jail. they are like night mares for me I have been in and out sence I was 14 every time I knew when I was gitting out I just leave I dont even bother to get the cloths I came in with I just sign out and leave

I did not know I was going home, even when I got back to court. They usually do not tell you till the last minute that you are being brought down for some sort of court appearance. All I knew was that it was going to be soon.

They brought me back down on a Friday for an appearance the next week. That last night in prison was the hardest for I was leaving someone who is a dear friend.

Spent the night before court in city, course by then I knew there was a court appearance the next day and I was so nervous. My appeals were running and since I have a legal background (it is better to be ignorant at times) I ran all the possibilities through my head as to why I was being brought back in front of my sentencing Judge, I knew some of them that my attorney was doing, all I could do is pray.

Got into court, I was so, so nervous, I did not hear a thing that was said, sat there all the way through the hearing. It took my atty putting her hand on my shoulder, gently rocking me and whispering, Hon, it is over, your going home! I broke down in tears.

I was released pending the outcome of my appeals, I won't go into that outcome.

They took me back to city and I figured that they would take me back to prison for out processing, they didn't. I was out within hours and one the way to to PO's office I was to report too. I was given my restrictions, etc., and was home within hours.

My parents, my life partner, Linda and my children were all there. Dad somehow managed to make reservations at a wonderful restaurant and we had supper, when all I wanted to do was go home and see the ocean again from our house. Then Linda and I had to have a serious discussion alone (serious discussion, is how we put it, you all know better ;)).

We did not sleep at all that night, Linda and I spent the night on the sun deck on the roof of our home, watching the stars, the sea and the most beautiful sunrise we had ever seen in our lives. It was the warmest March and the warmest day, and for us the best day of our life together, March 17, 2003.

Patti

Bless you all for sharing!...May God strengthen u's lot...

Getting out ? Never will forget that day. After flattening out a dime I was dressed out, giving my commutation papers and escorted to the door at Jeff City Mo. I had a friend of mine meet me and she and I spent a while at Holiday Inn there. A couple of hours later I pulled my first of a long line of crimes. Don't seem like I learned anything. A true criminal will never change except to get more careful. Cops should love us criminals, if not for us they would not have a job. Ten years did slow me down a little bit but not much.

Wow. Now ya'll got me thinking, and that ain't a good thing! *L* Thanks for the responses. Very eye-opening! :thumbsup:

These stories are a trip. Someone should create an anthology. All of y'all, thanks for sharing them.

My release day from 10 months in the county jail -- well that was one of the best days! I packed up my stuff the night before (letters and such) gave away all of my extra commissary items - and waited until morning. Woke the next day at 5:30 a.m. for breakfast - took a shower and sat in the day room and said my goodbyes to the ones who you are leaving behind - knowing they are wishing it was them - the same feelings I had had a million times before when someone else was released - then finally at 7:30 a.m. I heard those magical words "Connie, grab your mat, belongings and come on out and then the door unlocks" I rushed down the hall to get out of those orange clothes and into my own.
Now, I was on work release so I had my car and all of my work clothes there - so I had to load up that car -- and then it was out of there!!
Now, I am driving down the highway to home -- knowing that I am not being followed by the jail commander to make sure that I am going straight to work (on work release you are not allowed to make any stops). Then finally, finally being able to turn off that road to home, that road that I drove by on my way to work each day and then again on the way home with sadness, wishing I could go home, then I see it - my house --- what a feeling - My daughter had stayed home from school to see me - so we took a cruise around town and I just stared in amazement at all of the changes in town -
Then, I had to be home in an hour to be hooked up for house arrest. But still, just sitting on your own couch (no more metal picnic table) using the remote control and actually being able to hear the t.v., to pick up the phone and make a phone call, to be able to take a long hot shower, to be able to go to your own refridgerator to pick out you want to eat, to be able to cook, be in your own bed ---
Now, my time was only 10 months and it was in the county jail - but it was still time away from my children and I lost my freedom.
But, now my time is done and I am moving straight ahead!

whoever said this should be an anthology is so right. keep it coming people. it is a real blessing to be able to walk through this particular moment in time with someone. I have been laughing and crying and getting a whole new appreciation of this thing we call "freedom."
I spoke today to a poster above who wrote of not being able to leave the house for months. they just got done traveling all over the US and now there is a serious romance in the picture...good stuff!

Great stories!

Another note that I wanted to add on my release day - I was so anxious for everyone to visit me (since I was on house arrest and could not leave) but once they were there for a little while I wanted to be alone - It is just so overwhelming that first few days. Then that night my daughter asked what I wanted to eat for supper and once again too many choices overwhelmed me - I wanted everything (pizza, McDonalds, Taco Bell) but I could not decide. The next morning was my three hours "free time" for house arrest and I had no clue what to do - after being on such a schedule for almost a year and then all of a sudden being able to go wherever I wanted - I just didn't know what to do with myself - The first week I would have small panic attacks because of all the changes.

Plus when I went somewhere I would think in my mind "they know I just got out of jail" so then I would think everyone was staring at me --

I will post more tidbits as I think of them!

**That is - if you all want to hear more!!!
Connie

Oh yeah we do!!!!
I can understand the wanting time alone part. as to choices: would it have been better if somebody had just presented you with a platter of something they knew you liked?

Of course we do, keep it coming. LOL

yeah - if someone would have just went and picked up a pizza and had not even asked me what i wanted on it would have been better --
when you are locked up - you are always thinking about the things that you can not have - so i was always like "i can't wait to have big mac, oh, i can't wait to have a hot fudge sundae".

And another thing on my release date - I went to the closet and got rid of all my orange clothes - I never wanted to see or wear that shade of orange again.

I work at a real estate office and my boss also owns a bar - well I told him that I wanted a t-shirt that has their logo on it -- well, I came into work the next day and on my desk was a t-shirt - and guess what color -- that same nasty orange - my heart did an absolute flip - I panicked a minute. And the shirt is in my closet, because I can not wear it -

For the time I was in jail, I wore orange t-shirts, orange sweatshirts, orange pants, orange shower shoes, orange tennis shoes ---- and I was the one who the jail had stencil "Vermillion County Jail Inmate" on the back of the orange t-shirts that they sold on commissary.

I'll keep posting more tid bits!!

Oh my gosh, the things I never thought about. Now I know to tell my honey we're having this for dinner instead of asking what he wants. WOW! You'd think asking what they wanted was the best option, but maybe its not at first. Thanks!

Well the night before I didnt sleep, I was discharging meaning maxing out so they had to let me go no matter what I did, I had this rude officer come down and start mouthing off to me, I lit up a cigarrete and was like Im outta here in the morning, everyone laughed in the dorm. They packed all my stuff up the night before I gave away my TV my radio and everything I took home a box of letters and that was it. The next morning I was down in the Dorm lobby as the officers told me good luck and then they had me go to Control Center where I was dressed out, I saw the warden and was like thanks for the great stay at this hotel but Im checking out, My family was there, my drivers license wasnt expired so i got to drive the 2 hours home it was a great feeling crusing down the highway at 70 miles an hour I felt free as a bird

Glad to hear your doing well Brother, in 23+ out 6yrs. Keep it up you guys,
much success and happeness.
J.R.

I can still remember the 1st time I was released. I was in Vandilia, Ill. I knew the night before I was to leave, Dec 8, 1977. My Mom & DAd were coming all the way from the other end of the State to get me, Dixon, Ill.
I knew that the Guard would be bringing some paperwork for me to fill out and sign when he came back from his break at about 4:30 am. I was ready for him when he came in, but agast he did not have any release papers for me, I was getting upset, would not be adaquate. While all this was going on, outside we storm going, I believe it was the worst Blizzard the State of Ill had seen in many a year. My parents called the prison from the road and informed them that they would not be able to reach me because of the storm. Well here they come to get me and the Grayhound pulled into the prison, I got on and away I went, off into a Blizzard, riden a Grayhound.
I got on that bus at about 10am, I got home at about 1pm the next day. From the prison to vandalia is about 6-7 miles. In that distance I saw about 20 cars in the ditch covered in snow. Well that was fun. J.R.

My release started in May 2000. The camp called me in from my work release job early, and I was sent to the Programs office. My programmer told me I had been approved for Parole and was going to be released May 11th. This was on May 2cd. I about died, it surprised me so much as I'd been shot down for another year back in April. I went to work the next day and called my folks and talked to my boss. So the next day after that, me and the guy I worked with took the truck and drove to my Dad's house, loaded up my old bedroom furniture from when I lived at home and took it to the apartment over the shop which I was going to rent from my boss,( my boss was a friend of my dad's who had known me since I was bout 5 or 6, of course that wasn't mentioned when he came down to the camp to hire me) and we carried it up and set it up in my new apartment. Over the next couple of days my mom and sister along with some cousins of mine came over with a couch and kitchen table, cleaned and stocked the shelves and refrigerator, and got it all ready for my release.
Come May the 10th and I was called to programs. I about broke my neck getting there all ready to sign my release papers, and was told, "Oh, the Parole Board has denied your parole, your next review has been set for May 2001."
I was crushed, but as an issue of pride and stubborness, I just looked at her and said OK, and walked on out. I had to call my people and tell them, and they took it harder than I did. I just set it down with the rest of the times I had been screwed by the DOC and went back to doing my time.
Thoughts of death, destruction and violent retribution were always there, but no way was I going to screw up work release and day home passes.
So a couple of months went by and I am totally back in the day to day doing my time, and on work release it is easy to do time, when I started out to work and the Sgt stopped me and said we have a hold on you.
So I go back to the dorm, trying to figure out what is going on because a hold, especially one that is for an unknown reason is usually bad as in off work release type bad.
So I'm in the dorm sweating bullets when at 9:30 I am called to Programs. I drag butt, worried as I went there. Get there and my Programmer hands me a stack of papers and says sign these, your Parole Officer is going to be here around 11 to pick you up. I just looked at her, because It sounded like she had said parole officer, and pick up, and no way that was happening. I think I asked her what did you say, because she slowly repeated the whole sign and parole officer 11 o'clock thing.
I signed all the papers, still no idea what they were or what they said, and went back to the dorm in shock. A friend who I'd done about 10 years with came down and asked me what was going on and I explained it to him. Funny thing he seemed happier than I was. I just felt empty. They called my name, and I checked the clock and it was 11 o'clock. I quickly grabbed two trash bags, one bag I put the stuff I was going to take with me and the other got everything else, guess which one was the heaviest.
I get to the Sgts office and there was a parole officer with more papers. I signed them and we went out the gate. I got about 10 steps out and started to cry. The parole officer, who turned out to be a stand up dude, just ignored it and unlocked his car. I got in and the fear ran up into my chest and took root. I was terrified, what was I going to do, I'd been in since I was 17 and now I was 31. He drove me to the apartment at the shop and walked up the stairs with me and then had to tell me to unlock the door, because I was standing there waiting on him to unlock it. We go inside and he tells me about the restrictions on my parole and the conditions. And all the other stuff, then he started to leave. I walked with him to the door and he started to leave and I stopped him. I was crying and I asked him what was I supposed to do. He looked at me real funny and came back in and asked me if I had any coffee. Which I did from my family stocking the place up a few months earlier, so I made coffee, and he asked me if I had called anyone, which I hadn't, so he let me use his cell phone to call my mom amd dad. Then he asked me if I had anyone else I needed to call, which I called a friend in NA. He then waited until my buddy got there. My mom and dad showed up shortly after he did, and I started to get my head adjusted to the whole idea that I was free.
My first two years out were hard, had to work at losing some of the hair trigger reflexes and the whole prison survival traits I'd learned. Still haven't lost them, but they are not as close to the surface as they used to be.
Had PTSD, at least that what a good friend who is a shrink says. Had a bunch of guilt issues due to close friends I left behind. Went to a Addiction conference in a prison in the eastern part of the state three years after I got out and saw a couple of them, then came as close as I ever had to relapsing on the way home.
It has been a hard six years but I have survived and in an extent prospered.

Thank you to all who shared their experiences. I found it heartfelt and enlightening to say the least. I intend to share these stories with my daughter, upon her return. We still have 6 years to wait unless her appeal works out for the best.

For those of you who shared your experiences, I do have another question. The original poster asked what your first day of release was like...my question is, What would you have liked to do differently on your First Day of Freedom? What would your perfect Day one be like?

Thanks Ya'll For Sharing It Got To My Heart Todoy God Bless Us All!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was in California when I was arrested,Extradited to Ohio, sentenced after 43 days in the county, to a 3-15 year sentence, I had a two years suspended sentence to serve as paper when released. I was promised super shock in six months, but I never really believed they would adhere to their deal. After six months I was shipped back to my county for my Super Shock hearing the night before. The next morning, I was marched from the jail to the court house in an orange jump suit shackles and handcuffs. I was granted Super Shock. My mom brought me regular clothes and unfortunately a pack of cigarettes. (I quit while incarcerated), I changed clothes in the court house bathroom carried my jump suit back to the Jail. I then went to a coming home party at my ministers house. (If I could do it all over again I would have skipped the cigarettes, and waited at least three to ten days to spend time with people as I felt like an alien and I was completely over whelmed.) It was weird that I was free in California and it was over seven months to be free in a completely different state.

Thank you for sharing. These are some great insights on a topic rarely discussed, which is actually a turning point in life.

The day I was released was surreal. I was called out at 6am and went downstairs with some others who were being released also. Most of the women being released had been up all night before mainly because we could not sleep. Anyway, I can remember carrying that mattress with me and what little I chose to take home thinking they are going to say "ooops we made a mistake and you have another month left to go" and there I would be without neccesities for another week. But I made it downstairs, checked all of that wonderful state issued stuff back and then they dressed us out...IT WAS HORRIBLE. Some girls had clothes sent in, but with me I had no earthly idea what size I was, so I was dressed in the dress from hell that Dawson had gotten from Goodwill. We finished our out processing and then they walked us out the front, through the metal detector where we then received our release papers and then we were free to go. My sister had gotten her times mixed up so she was an hour late. An hour I spent wandering the parking lot in absolute shock. I just could not absorb that I was free. There are times now that I question it.

The day I was released was surreal. I was called out at 6am and went downstairs with some others who were being released also. Most of the women being released had been up all night before mainly because we could not sleep. Anyway, I can remember carrying that mattress with me and what little I chose to take home thinking they are going to say "ooops we made a mistake and you have another month left to go" and there I would be without neccesities for another week. But I made it downstairs, checked all of that wonderful state issued stuff back and then they dressed us out...IT WAS HORRIBLE. Some girls had clothes sent in, but with me I had no earthly idea what size I was, so I was dressed in the dress from hell that Dawson had gotten from Goodwill. We finished our out processing and then they walked us out the front, through the metal detector where we then received our release papers and then we were free to go. My sister had gotten her times mixed up so she was an hour late. An hour I spent wandering the parking lot in absolute shock. I just could not absorb that I was free. There are times now that I question it.

Sometimes I still wake up in the morning and dont know where I am. I was released on 6-28-07. I never knew "dark" in prison and when I wake and its dark....there is sometimes a moment of panic-not knowing where I am or what is happening. My dreams STILL revolve around prison, and that sucks bad.

My release day was the best/worst day of my life. I have never been so happy and scared, either seperately or together. I just didnt have a clue about what waited for me. I went to M.D.O.C. transitional housing, which I guess is like riding to a new joint-with NO co's! It was strange/fun/scary/and weird all at the same time. And my description fits today as well as my first day.

Ldynghtwtch-

When they told me to roll it up, that I was being released, I think I went into shock. My release date was scheduled for 2017. All I could think of was whether or not my other half knew, and whether there would be someone waiting for me or not. I was ecstatic to see him waiting in the parking lot, and the first thing I did was hit him on the head for not telling me and not allowing me time to say goodbyes and such.

Relief, big time. A feeling of euphoria, I am so thankful that I am once again on home ground and not locked behind that barbed wire fence.

Thanks to you all, for sharing your experience. I am writing myself, "do's & don't's". I am preparing for my Honey's release date. I'm even making a grocery list of what to have in the fridge and pantry. The colors he's wearing in prison, I'm doing away with. I got a lot of preparations to make. Thanks again, everyone!!!!!!!!!