News FeedOur Sixth Anniversary in Prison
On June 24, 2009, Carole and I celebrated the sixth anniversary since we married under bright lights of the Fort Dix prison visiting room. The devotion and love she has given so consistently over all these years has been the greatest blessing of my life, and I thank God every day for the treasure of our marriage. Prison rules only permit us to kiss during our Friday visit, so I must wish Carole a happy anniversary in writing. In so doing, I renew this pledge to prove worthy of her love and to use this commitment as a compass that will guide all of my decisions and actions.
Readers with a spouse in prison understand the challenge of sustaining a marriage through imprisonment. Nurturing love over time does not happen by accident under any circumstances, but when imprisonment separates the couple, each partner must invest time, energy, and creativity to keep the romance alive. Carole’s total devotion to our family enriches my life in ways that negate the pains of imprisonment. She fulfills me, and she brings a love that liberates and inspires me to work toward becoming a better man. Carole is my reason for wanting freedom.
Other prisoners sometimes ask how I keep my marriage alive and growing while I serve a lengthy prison term. I give all the credit to Carole, as she carries the burdens of my imprisonment without complaint, helping me to focus on the reality that each day brings us closer to that magical moment when we will begin living together. I recognize that my imprisonment is much harder on her than it is on me. She lives in the world, without companionship or support, yet she works hard to help prepare for my release, and wakes early each Friday to relieve all of my problems with the freshness of her kiss. Carole has not committed a crime, but because of her love, she serves this sentence with me.
I don’t know how many months or years still separate me from living with Carole, but even though I’ve been incarcerated, her love has made these past years we’ve shared together the best of my life. With an eagerness and enthusiasm, I look forward to exceeding all of Carole’s expectations as her husband. I give her all that I have, all that I am, and all that I will become. Her love is worth it, and I look forward to marrying her again when I walk out from these prison boundaries.
