Hey all...
Just wanted to share an experience.... I usually talk about JD here at PTO.... but very shortly after I joined PTO, one of my best friends also went to prison... his name is Omar.
Now in all fairness... Omar got lucky.... He did a lot of things he never got caught for... He ended up getting sentanced to something like 4 years for a drug charge (he was selling...) However, the judge gave him the "opportunity" to go to bootcamp... after he went through classification... he had to sit in an IL prison until a bed opened up for him at boot camp.... He did 120 days in boot camp... and successfully completed yesterday.....
Now I have stayed in touch with Omar throughout this thing... and he asked me several months ago if I would come to his graduation and bring him home.... I said of course and JD gave his blessing on that....
I had a lot of mixed feelings about going to pick Omar up.... Don't get me wrong, I love him and I am happy he was getting to come home.... but I wish it was JD, ya know?!?
And honestly... I was a little worried about it.... you see... Omar and I first met and hooked up romantically.... but that was years ago and after about a month we both had other unresolved issues going on with other relationships so we decided to be "just friends".... We have stuck my each other ever since and have always been very close friends... but at other times have kind of been "friends with a bonus"..... :) Well... Omar had done a lot of self-evaluation and had seemed to be changing his thinking... and I had a few friends "predict" that Omar was asking me to come down and pick him up because he was going to try to "get with me." I thought they were wrong. I thought that Omar respected what I have with JD.... I thought that while yes maybe if I WASN'T with JD, then Omar may think about giving a different kind of relationship with me another try.... but I thought that really, Omar loves me enough to just want me to be happy.... and so if he saw that JD makes me happy.... he would just be happy for me and would just support me AND my relationship with JD....
Well girls.... I just have to report... that I was right!!! Omar and I had a wonderful trip back across the state.... We had a wonderful day of talking.... He told me that he just hopes JD knows what a special girl he has and how much I love him.... and he told me that he is just happy that I found a man who makes me feel LOVED.... We even talked about what my other friends had "predicted" and Omar said that loves me and he always will but that I am Jody's woman now... and that he had nothing but respect for that, and for me... and he would never do anything to jeopardize my relationship and the happiness that it has brought me....
I guess it makes me feel good, because if I was right about this.... in spite of all the predictions people had made... then I have even more confidence that I am right about JD and how things will be between us, despite what everyone has to say....
I was not as sad as I thought either... because somehow, experiencing an outdate for the first time, made me realize that it really does happen.... it is very real that one day I will go pick JD up and bring him home!! (only 850 more days, God willing!!) Thanks for listening... I am babbling again!! :)

I know exactly what you are saying! I had a similar experience; a friend of mine was just released after 12 years in prison! He was granted a new trial and is now out on bond! He was doing 60 years and now it appears as if he was telling the truth all along - he really didn't do it!! Can you imagine? Anyway seeing him get out made me realize that people DO get out of there sometimes! So even though I wish it was my husband who was out I am happy for my friend.

Sounds like Omar is lucky to have a friend like you!

Good for Omar! When you talk to him again tell him once more how happy you to have him as a true friend. It sounds like he made some impressive changes while he was gone.

Shawna,
Omar is very lucky to have a friend like you and I am glad that we here at Pto have a friend like you as well. An JD has a real good lady.

What a great friend you are!

I also happy for you Shawna. It sounds like you and Omar have a very true and solid friendship. The support that JD gave you also shows what a true and solid relationship that you both have. You WIN in all ways!! *smiles*

shawna- this story makes me smile-so any people believe men and women can't be "just friends- " but you and I know different. Inxuidentally, last week a friend(male) of mine that has been one of my closest friends for 13 years called me and said his wife thinks "we are too close" -- now keep in mind, she has known me for eleven years and has always invited me to parties at their home, my kids to their kids' birthday parties, etc-and she has never had a problem with me- he and i do nothing together alone- unless it is have lunch whiile at a work related seminar (we work together)--I mean, I went with him to help him pick out his now wife;s engagement ring!!! I am really hurt by this, mainly that she would "go there" -- a mutual frind of ours says it probably has nothing to do with me - that is is probably issues within their marriage-but this both pissed me off and hurt my feelings at the same time- I really value his firendship BECAUSE there is no physical tension-we have always been and will always be just friends-- then the next day he emails me and says "sorry,it will all blow over" but for me, I don't think our friendship will EVER be the same- :(

jds: i know omar is thankful that you were there for him! you are a real gem, and obviously a very warm-hearted person! jd is one lucky man! :)