What freedom really means...

Hello everybody.

This is David, writing to you from a new perspective in my life. It's interesting, looking back, all the "phases" of my life I've been through until now. there's been many.

Of course, they've all been a change in direction to some degree, but the older I get, it seems, the less I'm pushed around by my circumstances.

As some of you may remember, I went to prison in 1989 and served 23 1/2 years for murder. I was arrested on August 8th, 1989 and paroled on February 4th, 2013. So, yes. I just crossed the milestone of 7 years out of prison. Seven years is the base parole term for first degree murder. I've been excited about the prospect of possibly getting off parole; of finally being totally free from the clutches of CDCR and the State of California. And it's not surprising to many that I got a text last Friday, February 7th, from my new parole agent saying that I've been discharged. I can pick up my paperwork in about 2 weeks.

Not the panicky feeling I had in the parking lot the day I was released, for sure!! In fact, I'm still waiting for the "rush" of emotion. It's more like after I was found suitable, when I knew the decision had been made, but I was still in prison... Maybe it just hasn't soaked in yet??

I have a neighbor who drinks. He was about half looped when I told him, so he immediately asked if I was gonna go party. "Yup! I'm going right inside my house and do the naked rain dance with a bar of soap and a washcloth... That'll be my party!!" To be honest, parole was mostly just an annoyance. Travel passes and a urine test every other month, and the occasional new parole agent that was more interested in my wife than me. (She has that kind of effect on CDCR employees, especially when they find out how well connected she is. I think most of them are jealous... and intimidated. I'll miss that!!)

Someone else asked me, "What will you do different?" And the simple answer is, really nothing. I don't do anything I need to hide from a parole agent or anyone else, for that matter. I guess I'm a law abiding citizen, living my life on a prosocial foundation, just being a member of society... Without even trying!! I'm a naturalized citizen, from the basest form of the term. Not from an immigrant standpoint but from a participation standpoint. I'm like that new tropical fish that came home from the pet store. I've soaked in the big tank long enough for the temperature to become the same inside the bag as inside the tank and that barrier is no longer necessary... But I've already been in the tank for awhile, becoming acquainted with my new surroundings, just not altogether. Now this week the whole tank is open to me. But now I'm blabbering.

So, thank you agents a. b. c. d. e. f. g. etcetera. and have a nice day. I'm a little anxious that I don't have access to the resource of my parole agent(s) and the backing of CDCR and the State of California. Not that I ever used them, but it was nice to have that sense of security. I guess I'll just have to figure things out.. :-) I guess it's a good thing I got that support network concept rolling in my life...

On a parallel note, I just made contact with my middle son, or more accurate he made contact with me. God's timing never ceases to amaze me. We've been estranged to some degree. He didn't appreciate how I abandoned him as a young boy. Totally understandable. Even so, he's just turned 40 in December and maybe we've both matured enough to make a go at it. He's in Southern California, not far from where we will be holding our Yorba Linda seminar in April. We have loose tentative plans to meet up. And that's okay. I won't have to work out any complex travel passes, because I'm free. I'm looking forward to meeting his wife and 3 of his kids for the first time. I'm alternately thrilled and terrified. And as I contemplate the events of my life over the last 7 years I have to say I wouldn't trade my life for anyone's.

My motto, My worst day out here is a thousand times better than my best day inside ever could have been, just took on a new dimension. Wish me luck.

Have a great day!!!