June 1, 2018
Dede
I am waiting for visitor applications. I have asked for them but now it's up to the prison to find some. I would love for you to come visit me.
I've been struggling lately with my mood. I think it's the coffee. I haven't been exercising as much as I want to. I've been drinking too much coffee. My spirits are up and I'm not hopeless, so that's good. Life is needy. It take a lot of maintenance to stay healthy. Sometimes I don't want to do the work. But, I believe God has a purpose with my life. I have good days and bad days.
I hope you're ok. Sorry, I haven't written. I've been hoping to send you an application. How's your book going? Don't feel obligated to write me. I appreciate when you do.
I just finished exercising and now I feel on top of the world. I'm getting ready to watch the NBA finals. Have a good night.
Hugs, Travis.
Travis on Mother's Day 2018
June 4, 2018
Travis,
I just received your letter and I'm so glad to hear from you. I'd love to come visit you and I hope the prison provides the visitor applications soon.
I sent you a book, Crafting the Personal Essay by Dinty W. Moore. It's been a while since I ordered it from Amazon and tracking shows it was delivered. I hope you've received it by now. There's lots of how-to books about writing out there. Some are better than others. My gauge for how well I like a book is by the number of underlinings I've made and the number of asterisks I've placed in the margins. I've left a lot of markings in my copy of this book :-)
I'm almost to the last posting of A Mother's Diary on my blog. I'm feeling trauma again in reliving the end of Pat's life. This seems to demand lots of energy. Emotional energy. I sit in nature and take deep breaths. I crave silence. I embrace solitude. That's how I listen to myself. It's how I "hear" Pat's voice, too. I hope my writing is helpful to those who are reading our story. Soon, I'll undertake the big learning curve about how to get my book into print. If nothing else, I want to leave professional, hard-bound copies for my daughters and my grandchildren.
Are you in touch with your friend, Jorge? I posted his letter on my blog and wrote to him. I haven't heard back and I hope he's doing okay. I'll send him another letter. No worries. I don't feel "obligated" to write to you, Travis. I want to write to you. I send you good thoughts every single day.
Hugs back. Dede
Travis' mailing address:
Travis Christian BB8099
B-1-211
C.S.P. - SAC
P.O. Box 290066
Represa, CA 95671