It's hard to describe just how important mail call is inside of (ANY)prison.I think in my case,when my mother wrote me from in prison,I honestly thought she was exxagerating a bit when she said that mail call meant more to a person than you could EVER imagine.
So when I got sent to prison,I seen first hand what she meant.Besides visitation,waiting on mail from family,friends or significant others' is sometimes what gets you through,when you think you can't make it even ONE more day in that crazy place.
You just sorta stand there and hold your breath when the stack of mail is passed out,cross your finger and pray for some sort of word from the REAL world out here.I stress the word REAL because in there,it's a world that is hard to explain unless you've been there.I could just see the pain in peoples' eyes when they had to constantly walk away from mail call empty handed day after day.Because in prison,you don't know WHO is being real sometimes.There are so many "commissary games"that alot of people play,and so you sometimes don't know who really is your friend,or do they hang with you just because they don't get commissary money from home.
What I mean by comm.games is,well,I can't say what other prisons do,but in Texas,chow time is at 4-5 p.m. in the evening and you can get REAL hungry before lights out at 10 p.m.,not to mention that even shampoo is NOT given to you by the state,so sometimes ppl are your friend as long as you have something to give them.But you sure know who is who when your commissarry runs out.
So just knowing that your getting mail from someone that truly cares about you as a person,and understanding that just because you made some dumb choices in life,doesn't make you a BAD person...means so so much.
I guess that's why I am looking for a penpal because a simple letter can turn a persons' entire day around...but ALSO I feel that need to stay grounded and always remember where I came from and how easy it would be to go back in that revolving door.
I love life out here,off parole and on no paper,but temptation is always there rearing it's ugly head,and if I could just keep that reminder close,and hopefully help give someone something to look forward to...then it would be doing us both some good.
I don't write anymore of my homegirls that I did time with cuz they all got out,but I do talk to a few sometimes.One friend did 22 years and unlike statistics show,she's STILL out and doing great.Another friend that I made a pact w/that we would NOT get out and screw up..well...she's out of touch now,even w/ her family and out here strung out pretty bad.So sometimes you can't always predict ppl. while they are on lock.
Anyways...I sent out a letter today and hope that I hear back.I told him I'd be camping out at my PO Box.LOL

Hello and Welcome to the group.

Thanks for sharing your story. Let the postman stalking commence. lol.

Best wishes xx

Yes thank you for sharing your experiences. I write a lot almost weekly to everyone so it feels weird when they do not write for a month locked down.

Hi tammi636 and welcome to WAP. My previous PP was at Mountain View for 6 years, before she died of cancer. I wrote to her for 2 1/2 years and all that you have written, here, she had told me also. I sent her a small amount of money, each month, and she thanked me profusely for the occasional ice cream and other luxeries that we all take for granted on the outside. It is nice to hear from someone who has shared that same experience, and I am glad to hear that you are making it. It was always my dream to greet my PP, as she came out those gates. But, it wasn't to be. Be well and thank you for your letters to those who are still in there. Nobody knows, more than you, how important they are. And, I think that you inspire us to write all the more, knowing how appreciated those letters are.

I have just started writing to a guy who is in Angola State and wondered if anyone knows how strict they are there about passing mail on my new PP is to serve the rest of his Natural life and he was only young when he became incarcerated and it is his brothers birthday next week would it cause conflict if i mailed his brother a birthday card ? thanks Gerri United Kingdom

i guess there wouldn't be a problem but to be sure maybe you can call prison about what's allowed and what not(i got a pal myself in la).

Mailroom rules for inmates on death row at Angola [Archive] - Prison Talk know your pall isn't at dr but maybe this link help you a little.

xxx whiterose.

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be nice to the people on your way up,because you will meet them again on your way down

I have 3 inmates, i am writing. I am finding I have alot in common with one of them, and finding even though I am in the "free world" I am still like a little kid running to the mail box. All three of them are great guys and have told me how my little leters and cards help them. I have told them their letters help me too. And they do. I suffer from depression so recieving mail 2 or 3 days a week from them helps me out. Especially when I get something everyday of the week from them. So my case is a case of we are all helping each other and I can understand how special mail call is for them.

Welcome.......really glad you are here. You should be able to give alot of valuable insight & I look forward to getting to know you.

Blessings,

Greyson

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"Some wish to live within the sound of Church or Chapel Bell; I want to run a Rescue Shop within a yard of hell." CT Studd

Thank you whiteRose that link was useful though i will call the prison on Monday.

Gerri xx

I can also relate to the whole mail things as well. I was locked up and when my people said they sent something in mail and it would run acouple days late or was on time it was like I could not sleep when they passed out mail. Getting mail is very importmant part of building someone up with the outside as they are locked down and doing time. MAil is one of those things its like getting your first car to some inmates. I am writing 11 people and still waiting for them to write back and I know when they all got my first letter they were like amase that someone is looking out for them. I know I was really happy when mail ran cause some people do not have people out here in the real world that helps them and just a littlest thing is always helpful to people doing time.