Listen Without Prejudice

Issue 88

Friends, I have news... next week, The Letter is moving to Wednesdays. I know it’s unfair and not okay, but I’ll get more time with my kids, and before long, you won’t know the difference. Onward…

My firstborn graduated from 8th grade on Friday. The last time I was at this graduation was in 1990, when I graduated from the same school.

Small, medium, and large. The proud parents of a soon-to-be freshman.

I’m proud of this man, very proud. And it’s not easy parenting a teen. Not easy one bit.

Vintage Simone, graduating from Mill Valley Middle School.

In contrast, I’m sure I was a complete joy to parent :)

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Corresponding Issues

Stephen and I have been binging Ear Hustle episodes separately and together. After several days of several in a row, we feel a slice of the stress inmates experience while incarcerated—an intense slice. Even with a thick skin for this content, I need a break. I’m returning to feel-good-only pods like Art of Accomplishment, The Good Life Project, and Smartless, but I’ll be back.

John and I continue corresponding—him from San Quentin’s death row, me from my home, six miles away. A few of you noted that reading the photo of John’s letter in Issue 86 was difficult. Alas, I never intended for you to be able to read the letter from the photo—though I’d be happy to transcribe them for you if you’re interested. If I were you, I’d be just as interested in what I write to him as I have no clue what to say until I sit down to write (not unlike how this newsletter comes together).

Adding insult to injury, I found a complete description of John’s crimes—the ones that landed him on death row—and the many he committed in the 42 years before he arrived. It’s all awful what he did. And what was done to him.

Stephen asked if knowing John’s past changed my feelings about writing to him. It doesn’t. What I learned took me aback, and it’s on my mind when I think of him. But, it strengthens my belief that every person who commits a crime of any nature learns the behavior from an adult—directly or indirectly, physically or energetically.* Listening to Ear Hustle has further proved this theory. There are no bad babies.

Say, would you mind taking a brief poll?

Whether I follow your preference or not, I’d love to know whether you find the topic interesting.

It dawned on me today, The Letter is a fitting name for a newsletter about my correspondence with an inmate at San Quentin. Maybe there’s something there. Let’s keep exploring… that is if you voted yes to the above poll.

As always, thank you for reading. See you next Wednesday.

* BTW, I’m not condoning behavior, nor saying everyone who experiences trauma becomes a criminal. But all criminals were abused, in some form, as children.

(What a note to end on! My sincere apologies. Here are some rainbows, unicorns, and puppies to close us out 🌈🦄 🐶 🌈🦄 🐶 🌈🦄 🐶.)