Happy Birthday to Me

 Happy 53rd Birthday to me! I have now been unjustifiably incarcerated due to the lies of my prodigal Absalom\Kylo Ren for 17.5% of my life: that is 38% of my daughter's life (8883 days) and 32% of my son's life (10,850 days). This has been my tenth birthday to acknowledge while in prison (not to celebrate). Prayerfully it will be my last. Next year I am guaranteed Parole from Count II and will probably be granted a Commutation from Count III due to overcrowding, an unjust conviction, excellent and exemplary behavior, and due to legislative changes enacted by the Oklahoma Criminal Justice Reclassification Coordination Council.

     I started my morning by be woken up at 12:07 am on 12/07 as they were just at that minute serving Monday's dinner meal! Yes, you read that correctly, dinner was not served until after midnight (breakfast had been served at 5am and lunch at 2:30, so it was ten hours between meals. I am glad I am not diabetic as it really messes with their blood sugar levels on days like that). One good thing to come out of that late meal was that the kitchen had made cornbread, a rare event recently. I also had another in a series of very vivid, very realistic dreams last night. This time I dreamed I was out of prison and exonerated. My son stepped up and told the truth and I was released. We then banned together to sue detective Dianna Baumann and ADA Sarah McAmis for their malignancy, manipulation, and the marionetting of him through their own lies to him in order to get a coerced statement from him. In my dream I was back at work at Disney (probably because of the large Mickey Mouse birthday card I received last night. I had been exonerated and was warmly welcomed and accepted by my community. However, retired TPD detective Dianna Baumann was continuing to pursue me. My dad was dressed in camouflage and helping me, and the DA's office set her up for the lies she encouraged my son to tell. We were gathers in my classroom when the wannabe Amanda Benson came in with an entourage of officers to question me, but she herself wound up being arrested. My dad and I walked away with his arm around me as we reunited with the rest of our family. It was a great dream to start to morning off with.

     For breakfast this morning I enjoyed a large bowl of stale cornbread and sweet milk. It is something I enjoy whenever I can harvest enough of it. I am reminded of my grandpa Cowen each time I have a bowlful. I can envision him eating corn bread and buttermilk from his large 1940's 32 oz amber tumbler with its alternating convex and concave buttons. He would use a long cocktail stirring spoon (which was always weird for a c-of-C tea-totaler to own) to eat with and would, almost without fail, dribble down his shirt or onto the table. Seeing him in my mind’s eye always makes me smile!

     After breakfast I enjoyed a 90 minute workout of a three-ish mile run and some sit-ups, push-ups, and pull-ups. For 53, I think I am in pretty good shape, probably the best of my life. My weight is good for my stature, my waist is a 32, and I am the sveltest that I have been since my early twenties. If I had normal clothes to wear, I wouldn't even have to "suck in" all day!! When my dad was 53 in 1999, I always thought he looked a bit old, and 1999 doesn't seem that long ago. It was just after we bought our first house and prior to his first heart attack in 2002. I am determined to leave prison healed, healthy, and whole ready to do the work that the Lord has in store for me to do, and to still look youthful and healthy for my age!

      After my workout and shower I cracked open a can of Dr. Pepper that I left out on the windowsill overnight. It was my first Dr. Pepper in a year, and it was so delicious and wort the wait. I had to buy it weeks ago to ensure that I had one today just in case I had moved yards by now because state yards do not have real DP.

     At noon I had a tremendously good, and much needed video chat, with my "brother and sister", which left me feeling loved and valued! I am so thankful for the ability to text and video visit now. It is truly a blessing.

      As it is a Tuesday, I hope that this afternoon will bring some outside recreational time and I plan on playing some wallball and later this evening some spades or rummy.

     Thank you to everyone who sent me a card, letter, or well wishes this week. They are appreciated. Your notes of encouragement help me along on this journey. You can also leave a "comment" on this blog. They are monitored prior to being posted (unless you indicate not to post them) but otherwise will be forwarded to me.

     I've been listening to Hayden's Symphony Number 9 in E minor as I type and my mind is flooded with memories of Philmont! On behalf of the four of us boys, Thank You, Mom and Dad, for affording us those experiences and training.   None of it has gone to waste! What I learned enduring those two week stretches navigating the mountain tops of the Sangre de Cristo ranges has helped me survive these past 3386 days. What a long and lasting gift you gave us all.

      My birthday wish for today is for truth and justice. For truth and justice for our country from the previous four years of deception. For truth in my case to be revealed (read blog post 9-1-2021 the "Narrative" for the real truth of why I am incarcerated) and justice (read blog post Day #3400: The arc of history bend towards justice) to be served. For truth on behalf of my son to reveal itself so that he can be freed from the lies Satan has placed on him through the manipulations of Dianna Baumann and Sarah McAmis. For truth and justice for my daughter who has had to spend 17.5% of her life without me in it.