A few updates:
-I can’t believe I will be here for one month in 2 days. Crazy but it does feel like 6 months in a strange Twilight zone way.
– I’ve had my 4th Shabbat, services and chocolate babka.
– I’ve done Tefillin every day.
– I just finished my 3rd book in under 30 days.
– The BOP.com website was updated with a Release Date, but just like everything else, that date does not tell the whole story.
– Now that the BOP website was updated, I should be having my Team meeting with the case manager any day now.
– At my Team Meeting, I will ask how to apply for a furlough for my LIfe Event of my daughter’s wedding and hopefully start that process.
– I started attending a daily class focused on Theology and Judaism with one of my macha of a friend who does tefillin with me.
– My job is a clerk to the main clerk in the garage which work is from 7:30-10:30 and then 11:45-2:30pm….helping out moving cars of which there are 40 BOP cars, and trucks that are maintained by our inmate mechanics. I do admin work, sweeping, washing cars, anything they need…all of this helps pass the time.
– I’ve worked out at the gym 5x, but am to work out without heavy lifting for another 3 weeks after falling and hitting my head on the ice. I wake up with a fog and it is sporadic but drinking more water throughout the day helps dramatically.
– I had kitchen duty in the Medium Prison for 3-4 days. Quite the experience.
Priority is to stay busy and positive.
My friend said when you get here to look for Hashem to hug you alot…and what he was saying look for the minor miracles, or the things that are blessings in your stay while in Otisville.
Trust me I have had a bunch of hugs so far!
– Great bunkee.
– great Temple friends.
– I am in Group A which allowed my wife and daughters to visit me on my very 1st weekend.
– So many more hugs to speak of.
Since writing this, I had my first team meeting, and am including my recap of the meeting below:
Today around 10am, the case manager called my name over the loud speaker. My name was on the list for last Tuesday, but the BOP had not updated my numbers, but now that the numbers are updated, she called me in for my team meeting.
By the way, the team meeting is between me and the case manager, no one else.
So, I go in and she started to explain the purpose of the meeting and also gave me 2 sheets of paper which had the 1st release date which was listed on the BOB website which is Aug 2026. (which this number will continue to go down and down)
She mentions paying the $3100 restitution and when I said, oh we paid that. I told her I had a receipt with me, but it was at my cube. She asked me to get it so I did. Before I left, I gave her my copy of my drivers license, and when I returned, she said she gave a copy of my drivers license to the camp counselor (next door) and said, “hey I got this really nice guy with me and he has a drivers license, so you may want to consider him as a town driver.” At first, I didn’t know how to respond after receiving such a nice compliment but I said “oh thank you.” Then the camp counselor came in and said for me to visit him after I am done with her.
Next, we covered a lot of ground and she was great! Basically, before I walked in and took a deep breath. I just prayed that what I wanted to come across was the real me….and I can definitely say, that is what came across.. I was personable when needed, grateful to her for what she does…and had the opportunity to tell her I’ve been reading books and she asked which books…and I reeled them off…Born Again, Living with Emuna and Let Them…and I have a 1 minute summary of all 3. She loved what I shared about Let Them!! Woo hoo!!
Next, I brought up the need to make the district change from Colorado to the eastern District of NY. -done
I took responsibility for my actions….and said I want to become a better person….and being here and reading, and being me, I will accomplish that.
I also talked about going to Temple and how that has helped, and she took the opportunity to share, which I liked, to not be bullied. Like I said, I really liked our time together and told her so.
Next and most importantly, I brought up my daughter’s wedding…and she said for me to email the camp coordinator first like in 2 weeks….and that would hopefully start the process, but she did say I would have needed to be here for 180 days, which I won’t be, but she was not negative about it at all…just that I need to email the camp coordinator first.
I remain hopeful with Hashem’s help!
So, next the camp coordinator walked in and shared with me that I am being considered to be a town driver, which is to drive inmates from Medium to the train station….at first I looked concerned and the unit manager stepped in to explain things for me and was very polite since she could see my concern.
Overall, to be considered is a very good thing in their eyes and I can see that…so I thanked him for the opportunity.
My application goes up the chain…we shall see what happens….this would be in addition to my garage job…as being a town driver is not a f/t job and needed every once in a while.
So, my first team meeting is done. I feel great after it. She was understanding, patient and compassionate.
One step at a time. One day at a time”
