8 years out

[DebraMD]

8 years out and doing good.I remember that day,guard said I was coming home.Got every thing out of mine.Hugged my cell mate telling me good luck.Handcuffed walking out.Handcuffs came off,was excited taking off the jump suit back into my regular clothing walking out with a box of my items.Then it got emotional.My mom,son and daughter were waiting,group hug tearing up.Did leave,mom drove telling her I learned my lesson.It was tough at first,did see a therapist.No one would hire me.Good thing was a friend of mine did get me into a trucking place as a semi truck mechanic.Been doing good ever since

[miamac]

Congratulations on your eight year mark! That's awesome and it sounds like you took the challenges of re-entry and stayed focused. You know we lose too many in those early months just out of prison.

Thank you for sharing your story and I hope you stick around and keep sharing.

[DebraMD]

I did stay focused and it took time.

[DebraMD]

I do remember mom stopping at a Burger King for lunch,mom knew I wanted a double whopper.It made my day having that double whopper.I do keep in touch with that cell mate,good friends with her doing good too out as well

[miamac]

Originally Posted by DebraMD

I do remember mom stopping at a Burger King for lunch,mom knew I wanted a double whopper.It made my day having that double whopper.I do keep in touch with that cell mate,good friends with her doing good too out as well

That's a happy memory.
I've told my husband that I want our one shot at dinner together (he'll go to a halfway house farther from me after release), it's going to be someplace with real plates and silverware. I've never shared a meal with him at even a standard sized table. I don't care if it's Sizzler, we're doing it. LOL

[maytayah]

Congratulations on your 8 year anniversary.Wishing you a continuing happy future.

[DebraMD]

I do have my life back on track.I told my mom,son and daughter I'm not going back to prison.I had a troubled life,2 MIPs at age 16 and 18,convicted of assaulting a police officer at 17 getting 2 months probation and I'm not proud of it.

[sidewalker]

congrats on 8 years. Fantastic!
You are right, it takes time to get things back on track after a stint in prison, especially with jobs. All the rest will fall into place.
Well good on you!

[DebraMD]

I do give back,speak out to troubled teens.Give them a message prison is no place to be.

[Stillwater]

I’m happy that you posted. Congratulations, and all the best to your future!

[Combs]

Congrats on hitting the 8-year mark! I’ll be hitting that one myself next January and it’s been a long 8 years (the first 3 being on paper and the most recent 5 with the heel of the old jackboot finally off of my throat). I still occasionally bump into somebody who recognizes me from back inside--only rarely these days and generally at bus stops, etc. The damn bad dreams (usually that I’m still inside and just got into trouble for some stupid thing that I never got in trouble for when I was inside) still won't leave me alone, though. They usually hit hit me once or twice a month. I’m starting to wonder if the occasional bad dreams will ever go away for good. I hope they’re leaving you alone like I hope they leave me alone some day. Best wishes and best of luck!

[DebraMD]

Police officers don't bother me,know I changed my ways not breaking the law.I use common sense now.

[ChaseJames]

First off, huge congratulations on such a great milestone.

Second, I wish you the best on your continued success OP, wonderful to hear.

[Combs]

Originally Posted by DebraMD

Police officers don't bother me,know I changed my ways not breaking the law.I use common sense now.

Since I’ve also “changed my ways”, “use common sense now” and haven’t done anything wrong in just under 14 years, you shouldn’t feel like you’re unique or alone. Aside from that, my bad dreams don’t involve cops. They involve some of the aggressively bad news CO’s that I used to have to contend with. Some of those guys never stopped looking and digging for a way to trip me up, although they never did succeed in their self-appointed mission.