24 years ago you named me "Menolly", after a young girl in a book, who had the courage to think differently from all the rest of her society. In fact you bought me the book about "Menolly of Pern", from your meagre money, in the Kingston Penitentiary.

I went out and bought the rest of the series myself.

The short poem that introduces Chapter 7 in the second book of the series, STILL makes me burst into tears every time I read it. In many ways, It is YOUR POEM S*****, and the poem of every other inmate.

Everything I do for inmate rights, S****, I do for you.

I still love you, my dear friend.

**************************************************

(from "Dragonsinger" the second book in the "Pern" series, by Anne McCaffrey)

DON'T LEAVE ME ALONE!
A CRY IN THE NIGHT,
OF ANGUISH HEART-STRIKING,
OF SOUL KILLING FRIGHT.

**************************************************

Your very own,
Menolly

Menolly those four lines are very powerful, I can see why you like it so much.

Those sound like some good books to read! Maybe I will try to find them, thanks!

Tigger and Isadora;

The Pern series are a set of science fiction books. Book one is "Dragonsong" (published in 1976). This one is MENOLLY'S story, and is the book S***** bought for me.

Book 2 is "Dragonsinger". Book 3 is "Dragondrums". There's 20 books now in the series! Written by Anne McCaffrey. (See <www.annemccaffrey.org> )

Dragonsong starts with a young girl (Menolly) who has talents that are not considered a girl's job. (She is musically inclined.) He father beats her and she runs away... She ends up coming back with 9 firedragons, and new ways of thinking that saves her entire world.

Each chapter begins with a snippet of poetry, that this inmate and I analyzed a lot, from a point of view of our own lives.

S***** knew my childhood! (His was similar.) He wanted to make sure that, although his life was over (in prison) mine would not be.

S***** is going through a rough patch right now... And I am helpless to help him. VERY FRUSTRATED this week.

Menolly

It's amazing the power in words and how one uses them. Those 4 lines sure do speak volumes. Your friend sounds so very special Menolly! I am so happy that he has you and in turn you have each other. I will be praying for you and S***** that things will get better quickly!

Love ya

Pamela