Back to the present.  We're settling into our next new normal.  We can't visit for now because the State of TN requires that everyone who visits submit an application and undergo a background check.  That's okay.  It seems reasonable.  The unreasonable part?  They review applications "periodically" but at least "once per quarter."  So, somewhere between today and four months from now we may be able to visit.

The visit excites us.  While in county jail, our visits were limited to a poor quality closed-circuit tv that made our son appear green and a telephone that didn't always work.  Once he completes the classification process in state prison, we actually get to see him in person and can even plan picnics for their outside picnic plaza.  Wow!  Terribly exciting since we haven't seen him in person in over a year.  Well, other than the times we saw him court wearing orange and handcuffed.  That's another story.

He still calls us almost daily and it's the highlight of our day.  He seems happier.  He says the food is better and he's not cold anymore.  While in county jail, he always complained of being cold and had only one blanket on his bed.  He says the beds are better and they have two blankets so he's sleeping better.

As a part of "intake", prisoners receive a full work-up including medical, dental and psychological.  His medical and dental went well and he has been given clearance to perform any job in the prison.  He still can't see.  Contacts aren't allowed - we don't why and can't seem to find out.  They don't know when he can get glasses.  Since he's as blind as him mama trying to navigate the stairway in the dark, this is a problem.  We'd send him glasses but they would probably not let him have them since they are wire rims.  The saga continues for the near future.

I've said there are worse things than jail, but I'm not sure there's much worse than county jail.  When worrying about prison vs. county jail, we were told to consider the difference between jail in Mayberry and the Shawshank Redemption.  With what we experienced, the UC jail was much more like Shawshank Redeption than Bledsoe County CC.  I'm not sure Mayberry even exists today.

We now anxiously await what's to come.  After classification, he will be eligible for work and classes.  That sounds promising.  But knowing what we now know, that could be months away.

To be continued...