My DR pal, Sean sent me a huge envelope two weeks ago. Inside he enclosed 4 sheets of paper which he needed 7 copies of each. He included a short note explaining along with another envelope that had postage on it telling me to send the copies back in that. He also sent 6 37 cent stamps just for considering it and if I was unable to make the copies to just send the originals back in the envelope he included and keep the extra stamps, well I couldn't return them if I want to. He told me he usually wouldn't ask me to do this because he knows how busy I am with school and work but he was in a bind and just wanted to ask. This is the first time one of my pals have been so considerate enough to do all this. I'm so touched. We've only been writing since April and he has never asked me for a favor. :)

I made the copies for him.

Thanks for sharing your story :) I have also pen pal named Sean in Polunsky unit! :) He is also wonderful person!! They all are wonderful friends - the BEST! :D

Its great to hear stories like this, because most of the men on death row, are kind, considerate, and not the monsters that people like to make them out to be.
6 x 37c stamps is alot to them, thats six letters, six responses that may make there day, that was really thoughtful of him to do that :). And I am more than sure that you would of been more than happy to get six stamps, and doing that. That is really thoughtful!!

It is a shame more people do not realize these guys are not monsters. I am married to an Arizona death row inmate. I have never found a kinder, gentler spirit, within anyone, than the spirit of my husband. He has existed , in hell and been humbled by that existence. It is an experience, unlike anything most people can even imagine living and few would survive were they forced into it.These men learn an appreciation, for even the smallest acts of kindness that the majority takes for granted.


When, we got our paperwork thru to marry, my husband worried himself to death, afraid that on top of the cost of the trip out in June, I would have to pay $185, for our ceremony. He kept saying it was his responsibility. A couple of weeks after I got home, from signing the papers, he wrote to say he had the money, to cover the cost of our wedding. He will not take money from me and I know what that much money can mean to him. He was proud of himself and I am very proud of him, as well.


After we married, he had nothing to offer me for a wedding gift, not even a ring to give me. In the 15 years, that he has spent alone in that box they house him in, he has had one personal possesssion that he truly valued. Eldon is a traditional Lakota and as such is allowed to keep the things that he uses to smudge, including an eagle's feather that he holds as sacred.


On one of my last visits, after we married, a gaurd gave me a legal size envelope that Eldon had released to property. He was smiling, as he told me to take care of what was inside. My husband had released the feather to me. He gave to me the only thing that has held true value to him, in all these years. I was honored and humbled, by my husband's sincere desire to give me all that he possibly can, from even the depths of hell, in which he has to live.


I know the heart extends beyond him too. One of our crazy friends that lives near to him gets an occasional line, from me. To make sure that Eldon is comfortable, with our exchange of letters, the friend sends his replies around to my husband to mail with his daily letters. To make me laugh, a little while back, the crazy guy, created me a "note" and sent around to my husband.


On a sheet of paper he had drew and colored in a big musical note. Then he created a mini envelope, complete with stamp. On the outside he wrote "a note for Kricket." Of course the note, when I take it out of the cute little envelope, is the big blue musical note. Time wise, a several page letter would have been easier, but it was all to make me laugh, which it did.


In my first correspondence, with my husband I had told him that I believed in the death penalty. I thought that I did. It amazes me, what I have learned, not only about the DP system iself, but the guys who fall victim to it, as well. I certainly do not believe it is just, or morally right anylonger.

Today, I wonder when God died and left George Bush to decide the fate of men like my husband, whose worst crime was not understanding, an injust form of punishment, when it was inflicted upon him.


I read threads like like this one and I smile, because I know there are at least a few people, who do understand I am not married to a monster. I am married to a good man, taken down by a bad system.


God bless all of you, who send smiles into hell.........

Eldonswife
Thanks so much for sharing your story. It was really touching, I completely understand where you are coming from. My man does me artwork all the time, it means the world to me, knowing that he painted these paintings and sketched them, and I was in his thoughts as he was doing this. He also does cute things, like they dont get much in there, and makes me up these cute little things, like dream catchers, little shoes with string made out of colored paper, etc. Our last visit, he sent me out one of his shirts, our visits are non contact, and that so meant the world to me. Its the little things they do that make it so much bigger.
One day, one mistake in life, and such an awful fate just is so unjust. The man I know is loving, caring, makes me laugh, smile, feel warm inside, etc.