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October 3, 2004
People, greetings!
Hello surfers,
Well, I have been gone for a while, but I’ve never forgotten you, especially Jane, who is
and always will be one of my favorite people.
I want to do something different in that the topic I choose is based on a person, I have
been acquainted with for the last seven or eight years, who is one of my fellow convicts.
This person who is by name Kenny Chard has been diagnosed with a terminal illness that
will take his life in not more than three years. I have become well acquainted with him
over the years and he’s a good man. Presently he is serving a twenty-five to life
sentence for merely taking a person on a tour and happened to make a u-turn on state
property, which turned into his present incarceration. As of now this illness has taken
total control of his body and his agility to move in a manner that is of the norm is terrible.
This man is in his forties, but yet moves like a man of senior qualities and it saddens me
to see the waste of life that has become his plight. This man is known for his acuteness
of fixing a number of things such as televisions, radios and much other electrical stuff.
He’s also a great artist. I have seen this man draw a picture that was so detailed that you
would wonder, why he didn’t pursue that type of career. Well, I know a lot of times life
doesn’t appear as it really is and things happen. I’ll not judge this man, because I only
know him as a good guy and that’s where I’ll leave it. Just the other day after a day at
work I chose to take my aggression out on working out religiously on the pull-up bars
and dip bars. Now Kenny is maybe a few years older than I and I am forty-three, but what I
look like defies my age and I am very thankful for that. I pride myself on trying to stay as
healthy as possible, especially while being incarcerated, because I feel, if we as convicts
don’t take it upon ourselves to ensure longevity than we are losing the will to fight.
Anyway, while I was working out, I see Kenny walking towards the building, he’s presently
housed in, but before he made it there, I stopped my work-out to walk with him, which
was very, very slowly and I just chatted with him for a couple of minutes. I asked him, did
he need anything and he stated that his mother was going to take care of that plus come
and visit him. The way he looks, I wish this on no one, because it is nothing pretty. This
illness was probably the result of a prior life-style that has now shown up in a terrible
way. This is something I reflect on a regular basis, because life is so good, even though
I’m presently in the position I’m in, I have to believe that one day my innocence will be
revealed, but until then I must stay vigilant in my practices to stay healthy in mind, body
and spirit. I wish I could say the same for my friend Kenny, but I will stay his friend until
the good Lord takes him. I only hope he is right with his God and then with himself. For
those of you who may have a loved one incarcerated or might know someone from your
childhood days, please visit them or write, because you may never see that person
again. It is truly easy to get caught up in our own little worlds and forget about those who
are less fortunate. As Kenny’s days are numbered I hope those who know of similar
situations take the time to reflect and to pay a little homage to those who are truly
downtrodden. Remember anyone can be subject to being incarcerated with a serious
illness.
People, when you can show love, it doesn’t cost you anything, but it can gain the
blessings that one seeks. I know this is an educated audience that surfs the web, so, if
you can find it in your heart, please take heed to those who are without, write a letter to
someone you may know, who is in prison. Sometimes a compassionate or kind word
means a lot to a convict. People; again thank you for your time and patience.
Again, show your compassion!
Love ya.
Sincerely,
Thaddeus Hamilton
# C-94517
4T-113
5150 O’Byrnes Ferry Road
Jamestown, CA 95327