The week before my college graduation I received a phone call that an incident had taken place and later found out that my brother was going back to jail.
No matter what life choices Joshie has made I will still jump over every mountain and swim across the largest ocean for him. He knows some of the choices that he has made weren't the right ones and he is paying the price for those decisions everyday. There is no reason to punish him further and have his entire family turn their back on him, so many already have. Whether my brother is behind bars or not he is still my brother and I still love him and nothing will change that.
So, the time finally came Jesse drove me out to the prison since it was an hour away from Kansas City. I wanted to make sure that I got there early so, I got a spot in order to see my brother. We pulled into the jail parking lot around 8:30 am and was quickly moved back off the property. Apparently, they don't allow visitors on the property until 9 and check in for visitation starts at 9:30. That felt like the longest hour of my life. The time came to line up outside the door for check in. We stood in line for 15 minutes before they allowed us inside. I waited as patiently as I could in line until it was my turn. I walked up to the guard and gave him my brothers number. He looked for it in the system and he said I have no one in the system. This is where I was baffled. Apparently, there were two jail facilities next two each other and they weren't marked very well. I had spent all of this time trying to get there early and then find myself at the wrong facility. :(
I quickly got directions and drove less than a quarter of a mile down the road and came to the right complex. This time I was in the back of the line. It took me longer than I had wanted in order to get checked in. I finally got checked in, turned out all my pockets, walked through the metal detector, received my black light stamp and finally made it to the waiting room. I was told to sit down and wait until he was brought out. I sat down, fumbled with my fingers, walked to the water fountain, returned to my seat, walked to the restroom, stopped by the water fountain again...walked back to my seat. It was taking forever to bring him out. I finally started to walk the length of the room because I couldn't take the anxiousness anymore. It was then I spotted Joshie in the booth. I stood by the door in order for the guard to notice me and open that heavy steel door. I couldn't get through that door fast enough. There was my Joshie sitting there. I walked into the booth picked up the phone and sat down.
After two long years I was finally able to lay eyes on my brother again. As I walked in the booth I kept telling myself no tears, no tears, no tears. They wouldn't be sad tears they would be happy tears to finally see him again. I knew if I lost it Joshie would too. I couldn't do that to the two of us. We needed every second we could get. We knew that we would only get two hours together and I wanted us to enjoy those two hours. It was kind of humorous we would get on a topic and talk pretty fast to make sure that would could fit everything and not miss out on anything. Then we would come to that awkward silence part because we were both thinking of what to talk about next. Those two hours of sitting there and talking to Joshie was the fastest two hours. I saw the guard walk up to the door behind Joshie and I sadly knew our time had come had come to an end. We were able to say our good byes and Joshie made the I love you sign with his hand and we both walked out of the booth going our separate ways.
I showed my ID and stuck my hand under the light and I was able to walk out of the visitor area and headed for the car. Jesse asked how the visit went once I got back to the car were she had been patiently waiting for the last two hours. I told her about the visit and the next thing I did was pick up my phone and called my Marmy. I knew she would want to know how he is doing and how our visit went. I talked to my Marmy as Jesse drove back to Kansas City. Once I got off the phone with Marmy I got in touch with my uncle where we were headed next.
Darryl and Kristen are the only aunt and uncle that still have anything to do with me. I made it a point to see them while I was in Kansas City. We ended up heading over to their house and spending a few hours. My uncle had hurt his back and wasn't able to move very well, so we just relaxed at his house and caught him up on my visit with Joshie and the happenings in my life. Darryl was able to sit up long enough for us to snap a family picture minus my cousin Jesse because he is a typically teenager and was out with his friends. I did get to see him for a few minutes before we left.
So, the time finally came Jesse drove me out to the prison since it was an hour away from Kansas City. I wanted to make sure that I got there early so, I got a spot in order to see my brother. We pulled into the jail parking lot around 8:30 am and was quickly moved back off the property. Apparently, they don't allow visitors on the property until 9 and check in for visitation starts at 9:30. That felt like the longest hour of my life. The time came to line up outside the door for check in. We stood in line for 15 minutes before they allowed us inside. I waited as patiently as I could in line until it was my turn. I walked up to the guard and gave him my brothers number. He looked for it in the system and he said I have no one in the system. This is where I was baffled. Apparently, there were two jail facilities next two each other and they weren't marked very well. I had spent all of this time trying to get there early and then find myself at the wrong facility. :(
I quickly got directions and drove less than a quarter of a mile down the road and came to the right complex. This time I was in the back of the line. It took me longer than I had wanted in order to get checked in. I finally got checked in, turned out all my pockets, walked through the metal detector, received my black light stamp and finally made it to the waiting room. I was told to sit down and wait until he was brought out. I sat down, fumbled with my fingers, walked to the water fountain, returned to my seat, walked to the restroom, stopped by the water fountain again...walked back to my seat. It was taking forever to bring him out. I finally started to walk the length of the room because I couldn't take the anxiousness anymore. It was then I spotted Joshie in the booth. I stood by the door in order for the guard to notice me and open that heavy steel door. I couldn't get through that door fast enough. There was my Joshie sitting there. I walked into the booth picked up the phone and sat down.
After two long years I was finally able to lay eyes on my brother again. As I walked in the booth I kept telling myself no tears, no tears, no tears. They wouldn't be sad tears they would be happy tears to finally see him again. I knew if I lost it Joshie would too. I couldn't do that to the two of us. We needed every second we could get. We knew that we would only get two hours together and I wanted us to enjoy those two hours. It was kind of humorous we would get on a topic and talk pretty fast to make sure that would could fit everything and not miss out on anything. Then we would come to that awkward silence part because we were both thinking of what to talk about next. Those two hours of sitting there and talking to Joshie was the fastest two hours. I saw the guard walk up to the door behind Joshie and I sadly knew our time had come had come to an end. We were able to say our good byes and Joshie made the I love you sign with his hand and we both walked out of the booth going our separate ways.
I showed my ID and stuck my hand under the light and I was able to walk out of the visitor area and headed for the car. Jesse asked how the visit went once I got back to the car were she had been patiently waiting for the last two hours. I told her about the visit and the next thing I did was pick up my phone and called my Marmy. I knew she would want to know how he is doing and how our visit went. I talked to my Marmy as Jesse drove back to Kansas City. Once I got off the phone with Marmy I got in touch with my uncle where we were headed next.
Cute Uncle and Niece photo!
Jake, Kristen, Darrly, Me and Jordan.
Once Jesse made it home from his friends house he really made me feel old. I remember him when he was two watching Blue's Clues and now he is taller than me! I know, I know that isn't a hard thing to do, but it is amazing to see how much he has grown up! I hope it doesn't take another three years before I get to see these wonderful people again!
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