I ran into a guy on his first day out of the penitentiary.

[Dunc]

I stopped for lunch at a local chain convenience store reason why I forgot my lunch. And next to me was this fellow with his daughter helping him order food on the touch screen.
Guy was totally lost in how to order anyway i sat down and they sat down at a table next to me to eat. Now we didn’t talk at all just earlier standing at kiosk ordering we exchanged hello’s.
Yet I heard this man and his daughter conversations and his daughter said it’s been a long coming waiting for this day for you.
Thirty years waiting for you to come home dad i heard her say.
Don’t know what this guy did reason he did such along time. Yet I was happy for him and his daughter yesterday in what I heard in their conversation.

[Delphinus]

1. I am smiling

May the rest of his life bring solace to them both.

[JMCKUSICK]

2. That's a great story and an even better response,

You're great.

[orangecrush]

3. K&R

[magicarpet]

4. Oh my goodness,....

.... that is a long time to be out of the loop. He has a lot of catching up to do. Now that he has paid his debt to society. Hopefully society will find it in their hearts to plug him back into the day to day comings and goings so he can live with dignity and hope.

[tavernier]

5. We share one thing...

I needed my daughter’s help ordering food on the touch screen up on the mainland. We don’t have those fancy machines on my island.

[Diamond_Dog]

6. A very touching story. Thanks for sharing, Dunc.

[Dan]

7. The Shawshank Redemption

There is a lot of truth in that movie.

One is that long term prison sentences may satisfy society's need for revenge but in other ways it makes things worse.

[OC375]

8. Almost everyone has done something at some point they could technically be incarcerated for.

Some get caught..

I try to remember, that there, but for the grace of God, go I.

[HeartsCanHope]

9. Years ago I participated in a church letter writing program to encourage inmates.

I wrote to a man that had killed someone during a robbery while under the influence of drugs.

I can't remember how long he served, but he spent his time inside wisely. Fred turned his life around and

found his calling. He took art classes and became a very good artist. I commissioned a portrait of my parents'

wedding from him for their 25th anniversary and and it is one of their most treasured possessions.

Fred ended up marrying his art teacher and they had an framing shop together in Jefferson City, Missouri

for many years after he left prison. He helped other inmates get their lives together, and was an excellent

stepfather to his wife's daughter. Fred told me that he never would have taken art classes if he hadn't served

time in prison, and that what seemed like the worst time in his life ended up turning his life around.

My hope for this man you met, Dunc, is that he uses his second chance like Fred. Thank you for sharing

this story. My friend Fred is gone now, but his memory is truly a blessing!

[Totally Tunsie]

10. By any chance, was it this man, Dunc?

https://www.livenowfox.com/news/oklahoma-death-row-inmate-released-from-prison-after-30-years-awaiting-retrial

Oklahoma death row inmate released from prison after 30 years, awaiting retrial

[Dunc]

11. No.

And in reading your article it reminds me why I’m anti death penalty.