Letters from the Inside, Susan Smith, #2

Dear Kelly,

Hi to you! Yes, I did get your letter along w/the card of your dog on the front. I do so apologize for not writing sooner. I have been going through so much the last couple of months. I've been very stressed and depressed. I got moved on March 12 to a building I hate. Anyone under mental health care was moved to either Phoenix A or Phoenix B. They want all of us living together. I was not happy about the move and though I have adjusted, I still don't like it. On Montague, where I lived before, I lived in a quad with 35 others. I had springs on my bed, I could turn my room light on & off when I wanted, I could use the bathroom in privacy, the locker was bigger. On this building, there's a toilet & sink in the room, the room light stays on from 5:30am until 11:00pm every night, the lockers are 1/2 the size from Mont., the beds are hard metal, and 127 other people share the dayroom. It's 100% different. The only good thing is I only have one roommate whereas I had 2 in Mont. I would rather deal with an extra person than to live back here. Nothing is padded and there are no chairs anywhere except in the game room. It's a hard way to do time. We are stuck here as long as we take medication and I need my meds. We are going to work on making improvements where we can, starting with the light situation. It's ridiculous for these lights to be on 17 1/2 hours a day.

I've really been dealing with some other issues as well and it's just been difficult. Please forgive me for not writing. I'm going to respond to your letter. I do not have access to a computer, but I do have a television. No cable. Just your basic networks. I watch a good bit of tv due mostly to boredom. I watch "Dancing with the Stars," "Cold Case," "Ghost Whisperer," "Castle," "American Idol," "CSI," and "Prison Break." Those are the main shows. Do you watch much t.v.?

I also read The Glass Castle and it was quite interesting. I like to read those type books, too. I haven't read Running With Scissors, though. Is it good? I loved Marley and Me and want so much to se the movie. Have you seen it?

Like you, I love to travel. Unlike you, I haven't really had the opportunity to do much of it. It's a dream of mine to travel all over the world. I love the beach so I want to go to Hawaii, The Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, anywhere exotic. I'd also like to go to Australia. Love the accent. :)

You mentioned in your letter you were enclosing a story from "Our Town" you had published, but you didn't include it. It was not with your letters. Will you re-send it?

Have you met anyone special in the last 2 months? What happened to your marriage? I'm sorry things didn't work out for you. Marriage is tough and I don't know that I'll ever marry again. He would have to be pretty special.

Today is Easter so Happy Easter to you! Holidays are always hard. It's so beautiful outside & warm. A perfect day for hiding eggs and having fun outside. We always played softball or badminton when the family was all together. I sure miss those times, you know?

I'll close here. Hope all is well with you. I apologize again for not writing sooner. I'll do better. Take care and I look forward to hearing from you again.

Smiles & hugs,

Susan

[Ed.: There is a sticker of a dog pasted onto her stationary. I will take a photo and attach shortly.]