24 hours..................

40 hour countdown!

Jana and I visited Cord last Sunday....kind of like a closure...saying goodby to our guard friends we have become acquainted with the past year.( we have our favorites and did see the one on our way out at the gate, thinking we missed him...he does have a photographic memory and never had to ask us for Cord's number, ever!) Saying goodbye to the long drive to Gunnison...goodbye to the guard towers and the coiled fences keeping our son away from us.

Goodbye to the security beeper, goodbye to our little key storing our valuables in their locker, to the 'grodie' public bathrooms, farewell to coloring in the blue room with dull/broken/short colored pencils..(although we did get brand new out of the box pencils twice when we took tay with us..she was our good luck charm), goodbye to waiting for Cord to make the long traverse from his "house" across the prison grounds to our building where the visiting is held, goodbye and good riddance to the clanging loud doors, the random weird rules, goodbye to having to sanitize our hands, steering wheel, driver's licenses, etc., goodbye to the other people in the "blue room" with children who we became friends with...(good luck to you all!! we know many of you have years to go before you sleep...) and good luck to Bolli's in their attempt to get Cameron out on Compassionate release.

The time has flown/stood still...and we are thankful for the lessons we have learned. We are thankful for friends who have prayed for us in our time of sorrow and affliction.

Thank you all.

Good by to this blog, although I will post photos of Tuesday morning when McCord will be

FREE

HELLO TO A NEW BEGINNING.............................................

Hairy black beard boy

Mike and I took Tay to see Cord. About twenty minutes into the trip, I remembered that last week Cord had told me to remind Tay that he STILL was growing his beard. So, I told Tay I was going to draw her a picture of something really cool and she would LOVE it.

I drew a picture of Cord with a big BLACK BEARD and showed it to her. IMmediately she started to CRY! and cry and cry....she cried for the rest of the trip...like one hour! I kept trying to tell her it was very cool that daddy didn't have hair on his head, but it fell out through his chinny chin chin! She was NOT impressed and continued to cry and say she wanted to go back home.

It was her birthday March 28 and Cord wanted her to wait and have her party with family when he could be there, so I have presents waiting at my house for her. I tried bribing her, telling her she could open her (PRiNCesS PReSEnt...I whispered it)...that got her to thinking, but then NO that didn't even work. She said, "I will hide under the table and not sit on his lap if you take me there" I DO NOT want to see that beard on him!"

Gramps finally told her that if she didn't want to go in, that HE would stay out with her and wait while grams went in and visited him. She thought that would work and finally stopped crying (these were REAL crocodile HUGE tears rolling down her cheeks kind of crying...not just a little whine...she meant business!)

We arrived at the prison gate and Tay has Cord's number memorized and impressed the guard with reciting it to him. Then she got the coin and put it in the locker where we put our car key and got the little locker key out. Then she wondered if she would "beep" through the security and ran helter skelter fast up the long sloping hall to the next guard where she showed her MY driver's license. I wondered at that point if she had forgotten about "the beard" (whispered).

WE were assigned to the blue room and I told her to count all the inmates who had beards and how cool it is now that men love to grow their facial hair. She said sometimes ladies can grow beards too. We saw Cord come from the other side through his door and immediately she jumped UNDER the table! and started to wail....loudly....I don't want to see HIM!!!

Then I said, It is just the same as last time you saw him (He has been growing it since he turned 30 on February 6 and wants to shave it when he gets out). She then ran out of the visiting and hid behind the door where the guards are, squatting down and crying, NO NO I don't want to see him.

I was trying to explain to people who were staring, She's just afraid of his beard. Everyone seemed to relate...

When Cord came towards us, I said , 'I tried to warn her that you had a beard still, but she has cried and doesn't want to see it." Finally after she had stared at him for awhile, she came out from behind the door and came in to the blue room. She hid her face in Cord's shoulder and kept peeking out at him.

He said, "LOOK! It's just funny little hairs growing out of my face..the same as before when you saw me...it's like your hair grows long and then you cut it..." she giggled a little and then pulled on his beard.

then he said, "when I get out in two weeks, you can help me buzz it off!!" She said, "Oh like Bud's hair?" and Cord said, "YES!"

She was fine with it after that?

whew....

Cord said when he gets out, he wants to go get his clothes out of the storage unit and then go to Walmart to get a few things. WALMART? you are free to go anywhere you want and after 16 months of being locked up, you want to go to WALMART??? (I guess to get a razor that can cut through that massive black beard...photos to follow) I bet this would make the front page news! a great advertisement for wallyworld!

Walmart should definitely desensitize him to anything. ha

We are counting down....unbelievable that time has passed so quickly.

21 days to freedom

Cord is so ready to get out. We saw him on Saturday and asked him what he wanted to do first when he gets out on TUESDAY MORNING April 5, 2011. We asked if he wanted to go from restaurant to restaurant eating his way home. After a few suggestions, with an overwhelmed look on his face he said, 'Where would you like me to eat?" I think he needs a little time to reassimilate the fact that indeed he will be FREE! and HE will be able to MAKE HIS OWN CHOICES!!! We pray he has an easy time adjusting back to the "real world". Prayers for our boy. thankyou.

Excitement in Fir-28 Hope Treatment

Mike, Jana and I drove to see Cord on Saturday. Tay woke up sick again. We hope she is feeling much better now. We miss her sweet little voice asking "are we there yet?" It takes about 1 hour 10 minutes, unless of course, I am driving. Then we get there in record time. ha

Cord's lunch is from 11:00-11:30, but sometimes if we get there TOO early, they make us wait and tell us they are still in COUNT. I guess they think the inmates are going to make a run for it since they keep serving them the same disgusting food day after day. They do count them all three times a day to make sure noone has escaped.

So, we waited almost 40 minutes until they finally told us it was our turn to go up. Did I tell you that part of the building is under ground, so when we walk from the front building where they do their security check on us, then we go through the Beeper machine and then they manually unlock the door to go into the the hall up to the next building, (this is the part that is really underground and THUS very COLD if the temps dip outside_, before we go to where the cafeteria style tables are waiting for us with another set of guards, who we have become quite intimate friends with. (can you say run-on sentence? ha) They are rooting for Cord to stay out...They say...WE DON"T WANT HIM BACK HERE!! KEEP HIM OUT!" We told them, Cord pinky promised with us (about 10 times) that he will NEVER come back !

Anyway, we get a two hour visit and sometimes the time flies by (this usually corresponds with Cord's mood/attitude/verbosity, etc) and Saturday Cord was in a jovial almost giddy mood.

I know he is excited to start his life again. I know he can do it. We are excited for him too.

He started growing his beard on his birthday (Feb.6) and said he will not shave until he is FREE! whatever floats your boat. I guess we were glad Tay wasn't there as she does NOT like his beard at all and it is looking quite lumberjackish already! Jana told him to dye his eyebrows black to match that ebonychinnychin...it is really really black. He looks good but strange that our boy can grow such a thing and to have his bald pate to match...ha wonder if he can even grow hair anymore?

Cord chatted and chatted and tries not to show emotion, but I keep holding his hand/arm/face ha...mama's perogative...so he won't be touch deprived when he gets out. He is making a list of all the foods he wants to have and other experiences that he has so missed with his freedom taken away.

We talked to a lady on the way out. Her son is also in the HOpe treatment program but in a different unit. SHe said she knew people from Mapleton and when she told me their names, I said, "Oh small world! That is our bishop in Mapleton and his wife!" She said it was her sister. and another lady said "Oh I know the Heaps from Mapleton." I said, "well Kim is our Kim's friend from High school. We actually just saw her at our Kim's baby shower". I guess Elder Richard G. Scott's son is in Gunnison. We are in good company.

Thanks for thoughts and prayers on our behalf.

28 days left

Drawing by Rich Miller (aka Rooster)

Taylar's birthday--she is 6!!!

Cord only has 35 days to go! We received a letter and a drawing from his friend "Rooster" way back when he was in Gen Pop. There really is so much talent within those walls. When my scanner works, I will put the photo up. It is amazing.

Cord says he tries not to think about how few days he has left and he never talks about it, because it makes the ones in there who have such a long ways to go feel bad about others who are getting out. (He said some have the same amount of MONTHS as Cord has days left to serve) I guess Cord is learning empathy in so many ways.

His friend, Bolli's mother has been diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease). She wrote a letter to the Board of Pardons, with three different doctors diagnosing her problem. She was hoping he could get an early "compassionate" release, as he is in on violation of a restraining order and still has two years left to serve!!! The Board of Pardons said they thought Bolli and his mother made the letters up to get him out! SO SAD!!! So prayers for this sweet lady and her son.

We are excited/scared for Cord's release. Praying for his ability to stay clean and able to have a wonderful new life on the outside. It has been a long and winding road for all of us. But really, we are thankful for the journey...with the Lord on our side, anything is possible.

We didn't see Cord on Saturday as he called and said he was down with a cold/bug, which that is the first time he has been sick in the past 16 months...so that is truly a blessing!

Thanks for your prayers...

Steph's dad is in town for Tay's birthday and we are waiting to hear WHEN Kim delivers her new baby girl into this "GREAT WORLD" today! Good things happening....(update: Kim had her baby at 12:30! yeah!)

HAPPY VALENTINE's DAY!!!

A special card hand drawn by Cord's friend..........in trade for a Giant sized Candy bar!!

Birthday Card to son Landon

This is a birthday card not by Cord's cellie (who did the other one) BUT another man in there who is a TATTOO artist! He drew it in ink and never erased once. Cord told him what he wanted and the guy just drew it!!! amazing...such talent there in those bottom dwellers! Anyway, both of the artists don't get money from anyone on the outside, so Cord buys things from commissary for them as payment. I want him to draw ME a card!!!

Happy Birthday to Cord

Years ago, my mom and dad gave $2.00 bills for grandkid's birthdays. The kids always

thought it was cool, fake money and would never spend it.

I was going through old boxes and came across this unopened letter and money.

I xeroxed it and sent it in to McCord, but of course, you CANNOT xerox money, so it came

back to me.

I know my parents are watching over him and wish him well today on his 30th BIRTHDAY!

a letter and a visit and BIRTHDAY BOY/SUPERBOWL

February 6, 2011

Jana and I drove to Gunnison to see McCord. We have the ritual down pat by now after a year of coming to the prison every Saturday. No metal underwire bras--no gum-- no layered shirts--no revealing see through shirts--no too tight shirts--no shorts or capris if they aren't long enough-no coats or hats and DEFINITELY NO HOODIES!!! No scarves, although I did get through last week with my scarf on. (depends on how picky the guard is at the front desk).

You always have to worry about going through the metal detector...especially if you have shanks in your shoes. ALso your earrings might beep the thing too. (and of course, IF you forgot and wore your underwire bra...they make you go in the bathroom with long unsharp scissors and dig the metal out by yourself...or no visit...or go buy a sports bra at the dollar store down the road (although they are 2/$5.00) and yes, this is experience talking...(of course, MIke's knee beeps every time, so he just takes a stance with his legs wide and his arms straight out ....ha..sometimes new guards are like, "what are you doing?" we say, "ToTAL KNEE" and they say, "OH......I'll get my "wand"....

We saw a "babe" come in today to see her prisoner with a LOW cut cowl neck sweater on....HOW DID SHE GET PAST THE GUARDS??? then when our visit was over, we saw the guard go out and tell the couple to STOP making out and keep their hands above the table at all times and also, "Pull that Sweater UP!" (he also stated to us that she would NOT be wearing that sweater again!"

When we first got in to the prison, it was interesting to see a "first time " grandma trying to get her little grandson through the hoops it takes to let him visit WITHOUT him being on the visiting list. (everyone HAS to be background checked and then be on a Visit list of people who can go visit their inmate--only if you are on the list can you get it!)

The grandma said the little boy wouldn't be coming to visit his daddy again for a year.....and finally the guards submitted and said OK he can visit today. Whew...that was close.

It reminded me when I left for Tennessee and I was the only one of the list that could take Tay and Buds in. SO, Mike and Jana had to bring in a letter from Steph stating that they could also accompany her children!

The guards were telling us how the inmates put all their commissary food together onto a big round table (with plastic down) and they make a "spread". This is for special occasions, such as the SUPER BOWL! the guards said it looks disgusting but the inmates all go back for seconds.

Cord says it is TONS better than the prison food.

McCord said he ordered special food for his birthday and the Super Bowl. He bought two packs of Nacho cheese chips, a little package of velveeta-like cheese that he can microwave (only level threes have microwave privleges to use it) and then he makes "Nachos". He is having his own "special" super bowl party, because he is Jr. Mentor and gets to be in his room with his tv and invites those "guests that he likes?"

He bought a package of eggnog taffy, some flour tortillas, 2 packages of ramen noodles. (they nuke the noodles and drain off the water and add to the Nachos)...

Cord talked about Hope Bucks that he can earn. I don't know if we ever heard of those? But he said you can buy certain prizes if you get enough. If they have a surprise inspection and your room is clean, you get 5 hope bucks. You can order colored pens and

Letter from Cord:

January 18, 2011

Tuesday morning- Had a great day off yesterday and had a good weekend. My parents and Tay came to visit on Saturday. She was sooo glad that I had shaved!

The Packers won. I know that I sound like a band wagoneer, but they were my team BEFORE FAVRE left, now that Favre is done for good, I guess I can usher in teh Aaron Rodgers era. I really started to love the "Pack" again when they played New England and alost won with their back up Q.B. Even though they lostit was still a great game. So "GO PACKERS!"

So, last Thursday, Jack Rader, a guy who is in here with me, graduated and was ready to leave. He admitted that HE was theone who broke confidentiality in Crew Boss meeting. It was a big deal. He was tribunaled and we had the director of HOPE, three security staff memebers and the L.T. It was crazy. He received 60 days RRG. Drama! Rader's an ok guy, he is young and really impressionable. He really just wants to fit in and will do anything to look "cool" or "gangster" even though he is a big dummy.

I'm down to 70 something days. I keep telling myself not to think about it, but it's coming quick and I'm nervous. Alot of unknowns still. It's like I always say, our scared or nervous then you go through the experience and you make it through it and it usually isn't as bad as you thought it would be.

Okay, I don't always say that, it's a good theory tough.

January 24, 2011

January is almost gone and over with. The weekend went fast. A healthy dose of football is just what I needed. the Pack took care of the Bears and the Steelers took care of the Jets. Sorry New York. maybe next year...

I was able to move myself to the back of the dorm. It's alot quieter and it's not as bright. It did tick off a couple of people who weren't as happy as me to move, but you can't please everyone (since Cord is Jr. Mentor, he got to say which dorm he wanted to move to...when he got his level changed back to three and couldn't lay on his bed, from his new bed, the camera couldn't see him, so he would lay down, but not sleep...hmm bad boy)

My mom and Jana came to see me on Saturday. Weeks are going by fast. Really I only have 10 more weeks! It almost doesn't seem real.

January 25, 2011

We had a guy go home, he paroled today, so we had an open bed. It was empty for about two hours. The prison is so crowded that they are now bringing guys out of Maximum security to the HOPE program. There is a guy who just came into HOPE and he has been locked up for almost 15 years. He paroled about 10 years ago and was out for five weeks and he came back with new charges and they gave him his whole sentence. He seems like an ok guy. I can't imagine being locked up for 16 years and then get out. He won't know how to act in society.

(Cord told us that when the guy went in, the phones were the big gray ones with the big antennas on top; they showed Social Network in there and Cord had to explain what Facebook was...the guy kept saying, "Why do you put your pictures on there? Why do you look at your friend's lives? He couldn't figure it out. The internet had just been created to, so he couldn't believe you could look anything up on it and everyone, including kids, knew how to turn a computer on)

Another guy was moved over from MAX today and he was on my RRG crew. He went to MAX 90 days ago but now he is back. He is an idiot and he'll probably be back on RRG.

My parents came in yesterday and we had a good visit. They left at about 4:10 and I was stuck down in visiting for about 40 minutes. I was walking back from visiting and it's really the only time I'm by myself. It's a nice time to think, even though I have the razor wire following me the whole way. My brother came down today at 8 a.m. I haven't seen him for 5 or 6 months. We had a good visit, also. Alot of people don't get visits from anyone, so I consider myself blessed.

(Cord told us yesterday 2/6/11 that a friend in there hasn't had a visit for 8 years. He said, "Does your family visit EVERY WEEK?" Cord said, "just about..." He said, "WHY DON"T YOU TELL THEM TO STAY AWAY?" He said that guy is "institutionalized and doesn't like visits to mess up his routine. Sad. I asked Cord if he wished we didn't come and he said, "No I love it". I said "OK THEN WE'll be back tomorrow for your birthday!!" He laughed and said, "Uhhhh, i'm good for a few weeks..." Mama or the SuperBOWL?????)

I have been thinking what I have learned these last 16 months. There has been alot in my life that I have taken for granted, namely FREEDOM! I've talked about it before, but the freedom I took for granted is something I don't ever want to lose again. It's the little things that I miss: being able to go outside at night, that's a big one. Anyone that tries to glamorize prison is a fool It's the bottom of society. I won't be anyplace ever in my life where the worst people are at, any give time. I'm just glad that I'm almost down to 60 days and I'll be able to start my new life!

We have a HOPE Slogan that we say every morning and at the afternoon meeting. It goes:

I create how I feel, by how I think about the people and events around me.

I am the only one who can change the way I feel by changing the way I think.

I haven't really thought about the meaning of it til recently, but it is so true, that I DO create the way I feel.

Here's a poem:

Why my time comes forget the things I've done

I'm strong on the surface not all the way through

My heart is fragile and you hold it in your palm

Is this real or a dream that you're mine

I've waited my whole life for you to be near

Mistakes I've made that make me strong

Emotions run deep cut to the bone

I'm no longer there I've gone away

Are you lost in your lies hoping I won't realize

between my pride and my promise

You promise me the sky then toss me like a rock

you wrap me in your arms but I still feel alone

But it makes me stronger and I'm glad you're gone.

Dear Aaron Rodgers,

I'm writing, in regards, to all the negativity that I have sent your way. I need to apologize. So here it goes, You're smart and I'm stupid. You're good at football as I am not. You're good looking and I am not.

I'm sorry that I said you could never take the Packers anywhere and that you would always be the guy who was known as Brett Favre's replacement. I'm also sorry that I said your face doesn't fill out your helmet and that you have little skinny girl arms.

Best of luck next week in the Super Bowl.

Sincerely yours,

MTP

Cord's cellie is an artist

Can you believe this card created by Cord's cellie?

Amazing art work!

Cord's yummy menu is no more....

A LETTER!

December 15, 2010

Yesterday, we had "T.C." Therapeutic Community. We have it every six weeks and it is where everyone gets to showcase their talents-whether it be a joke, talent, skit, art, whatever.

So DXC and I (that's Cameron) got together and collaborated on a few songs. First, we did a Christmas song, "Somebody SNITCHED on me!" (Cord is sending the words he wrote out in his next letter), but I changed the words to Prison and HOPE people. It was very funny. Then we played "Imagine" by John Lennon and finished up with "O Holy Night" and "What Child is this?" It was fun.

I do not like that the guitar is half steel strings and half nylon. The prison people have to put the bottom three strings nylon, so that inmates don't steal the strings and make a tattoo needle out of them! (Who would've thought??)

Not much has been going on the last couple of days. Just into my daily "routine" and just waiting for the holidays to be over with and get the NEW YEAR on it's way.

December 17, 2010 Friday

We had a new guy transfer over from another section. He is on RRG. He had to trade sections because he found out someone was going to write a pull up on him, so he held a pencil to the guy's neck and told him if he wrote another pull up on him, he would stick him in the neck. He had to go E-LEVEL for a little bit and now he's back. WEll, my section counselor figured I would be the best one to handle him, so now he is in our section. I had to stay up this morning and baby sit him.

I had to put in a request to see the Dr. I've had a rash on my head and under one arm pit for a couple weeks, so he gave me some hydrocortisone cream to clear it up. He said it's not unusual to get irritations in prison. I't not the cleanest place in here and you get different germs and viruses.

Well, it's almost Christmas and I'm almost done with the HOPE program and then I'll be home free! YEAH.

January 4 2011

I can't believe that is the New Year! I'm down to 90 days and I'm ready to get out of here. I watched The Bachelor last night and it gives me hope that there are still hot women out there. ha.

I had an O.k. Christmas. I'm just glad that it's over. My family came to visit me last Monday and I'm glad that my kids had a good Christmas.

I was surprised to see so many Christmas cards in the mail...alot of family and friends showing their support for me. I REALLY appreciate it.

Now onto my HOPE program..... The last couple weeks, have been stressful. We have a crew boss meeting every Wednesday and we go through the crews and state problems. WE also vote on people's STEP advancements . Those wanting to advance had to fill out an application and state why and what they have done that would warrant them getting the next step. Then, all the crew bosses vote.

Well, there were two applications of inmates that were going for their Step 4. They weren't crew bosses or anything, but they just wanted it. I thought, since I am a step 4 and had to work hard being a crew boss and (now Jr. Mentor) that they really didn't deserve to go up a step yet. So I voted no. The Sr. Mentor asked me why and I had to give my reasons. Usually the vote is unanimous for and rarely is anyone against. When we voted, I guess I persuaded people to vote against too and both for and against were split, with the against winning by one vote.

The crew boss meetings are "supposed" to be confidential, but one of the crew bosses came back and told the two being voted on, how the voting went. They were mad at me and I asked how they found out as the meeting was supposed to be kept under wraps. They acted like they didn't know what I was talking about. (I had put all my clothes in my laundry and then walked without my shirt to the shower, which we aren't supposed to do, so the one guy ran up to me and said he was writing a pull up on me...) A bunch of other passive/aggressive behaviors went on -making vindictive calls etc...

The section counselor found out and wanted the person or people who broke confidentiality to come forward (in 10 seconds)...of course, no one did, so he took all our leadership steps down one, so now I'm a step 3 again. No laying on my bed again, no weights til after noon, no washer/drier, microwave....etc. so now my whole routine is screwed up. But one good thing about all of this, is that since I'm being assertive in the community, they promoted me to a Jr. mentor. It's better than the RRG crew boss, but it definitely is more stressful!

So, that's the nwe drama in my lfie. And it seems that time is going more quickly when there is drama going on. I'm down to 89 days or something. SThen I get to worry about what's really important...my family and me staying clean. What is crazy is that it's a fresh start, but in a way, it's not.

1-12-2011 Wednesday

Yesterday one of my buddy's got out, Jess Wayment. He has been locked up for 30 months and finally got out on a termination. He was one of the few people that I could actually talk to on a personal level. It's weird that he is OUT but it's just closer to when I get released.

It's been FREEZING FREEZING in here. They turn the blowers on still, even when it's negative 4 outside. The blowers just bring air in from outside so from 9 at night til 4 in the morning, it's FREEZING> It reminds me of when I was a little kid and we would to to Storehouse Market. They had a walk in cooler section and as soon as you walk in you would get blasted by the arctic air. That's EXACTLY how the blower feels. I woke up at 2 a.m. and had to pee. But I held it so I didn't have to get out from under my blankets. ha

I'm really getting nervous to get out. Call it institutionalized or whatever, but eventually you do get used to being locked up and it still bothers you that you're locked up but, you are just ok, I guess, with doing your time. I hate this feeling! I know once I get out, I can stay out. I'm jsut scared for the transition part of it. Being out and being broke, being in debt, not really having self-confidence, I guess is what I'm worried about.

But I'll be FINE! the thing about trials is ...you go through them and you usually come out fine.

So, the CUCF menu changed to match the draper menu. The food is nasty and the portions are a lot smaller. The only thing about being in Gunnison that was better than Draper was the menu!

I started my "Phase 3" groups. They are supposed to be one time a week. I need 12 groups and then I'll be graduated! I already have 4 so I'm getting close.

Not having my step 4 at night is driving me nuts. I'm so tired at night and take a nap from 5-6 then it's all I can do to stay up til 10:30 p.m. I guess that's what happens when you turn 30. More tomorrow.....

Experience is simply something we name our mistakes....Oscar Wilde

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

Mike and I took Taylar in to see Cord yesterday (1-15-2011) He had shaved his beard which was coming in SOOO black, it was crazy. Tay was scared of it and she was so glad that it was gone. She said I hated those weird little black hairs coming out of your face!

Cord reported that there was a crazy meeting with all the leaders in the prison-counselors, guards etc. about the crew boss who had told about the last meeting. This prisoner was supposed to graduate from HOPE and he finally fessed up thinking they wouldn't let him graduate. DUH. He actually had to go to RRG which is where he is locked up 24/7 and only gets out for one hour every three days!!! and they took his months of being in HOPE away! The leaders were very upset, so Cord thinks they might be getting their step back. He was looking forward to that.

********

IT is CORD'S BIRTHDAY!!!!on February 6 2011...30 years old. If anyone wants to send him a Birthday card. He really did appreciate so many of you writing Christmas cards to him. Thank you.

A visit to Cord in the very very chilly weather

I LOVE LOVE this photo of all the Parry men...four generations of men with a few sweet girls thrown in the mix. Since Grandpa Great has passed on, finding special photos like this means a lot more now. Almost a year has passed since his wreck and every day we certainly feel a void. We know he is hanging out in prison watching over our boy!...He did Love McCord!

Jana and I (Mike had a migraine from way too much left over Christmas chocolate and we are getting Kim's papers ready, so she can make the trek to Gunnison a time or two before she foals in March) went to see Cord on Saturday the 8th. Cord has a letter to mail out...delinquent boy that he is....He said when he tells us what has been happening every week, it takes like 5 minutes to tell, but he says when he writes his letter it seems to take forever....but then neither Jana or I can remember the story by the time we get home....so I guess we'll wait for the letter.

The GOOD news...is that he was made a Junior Mentor last Tuesday, which means???? He is at the top of the pile!! To make Senior, you have to be in OVER a year and he definitely DOES NOT want that to happen! SO countdown to April 6 continues....creeping some days and zooming some weeks...

Cord said when he walks from his "house" to visit us, he has to leave his coat on a hook with all the rest of the visiting inmates and since all the coats look the exact same...they have to look for their little label on the back of the coat that has their name and number on it. He said he bought a beanie from commissary...(as you can see how cold his head would get) but he won't wear it when he comes to visit, because if he put it in his coat sleeve to store it (or hide it) there until after his visit, all the other inmates leaving will feel through all the coats and if they feel a lump, voila...a missing beanie...and who is the wiser? They are all government issue with no identifying features, so Cord is very wary of his "possessions".

Letter is in the mail.....