I want to say I am back from being someone I could not relate to. I have found my rose-colored glasses and permanently put them on. I will find the positive to balance all the negativity in prison. In this way, I will not allow the government to win. So this will be the good news report! Some bad news will creep in, of course -- I am in prison.
On Friday nights I am given a room to light Shabbat candles and have some quiet time. I am the token Jewish person here, but they are respecting my right to practice my religion. Of course, they cooperate under the threat of religious freedom violations, but they are doing a great job anyway. Three hours of silence every Friday night -- I am so glad I was born Jewish!
Walking around Club Dublin, my eyes see much wildlife. Ducks, geese, hummingbirds, bluebirds, rabbits, raccoons, four cats, blue heron, owls, squirrels, pigeons, possums, and skunks. On the hillside are wild boar and deer. One night I saw the baby skunk sleeping next to the cat. For all this I am grateful.
Stephanie Landa, June 2007
L-POP (Landa Prison Outreach Program) has been formed, thanks to my friend Sarah Armstrong. We will find the negative aspects of prison life (which will not be hard) and work at fixing them. We started out with small aspects like recycling and vending machines, and have had positive results. Americans for Safe Access will be including us on their website, so look for more successes. I truly feel like I was incarcerated for a reason, and am looking forward to making changes!
Some of the girls here are taking a correspondence critical thinking college class, and they interviewed me on medical marijuana for their paper. I educated them, and they wrote down what I said. They received an "A" for content, and this made me very happy. I try to educate everyone, staff included. Most of the staff cannot figure out why I am here -- they voted for Proposition 215. DUH!
My last and closing thought is that my rose-colored glasses are a direct result of all of you reading this. They came through the mail. All the love through mail call has finally penetrated my soul. I thank everyone who has written, and those who will write. It has helped me out of my funk into a path of strength.
Again, thank you!
One Heart, One Love, Stephi
Stephanie Landa 09247-800 Federal Prison Camp 5675 8th Street, Camp Parks Dublin CA 94568
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