Okay, I don't think I ever really meant to pressure anyone. I certainly understand busy lives, maintaining priorities, etc...remember, I have seven children and a very needy husband myself. I suppose I really felt as though I were just trying to, from time to time, "jog" y'all's memories.....you know, in case you get so busy (as I often do) that you FORGET to drop Keith a line or two. I feel as though I "do what I do" out of simple compassion and that sense of "there, but for the Grace of God, go I...." I try to put myself in someone else's shoes and do what I would pray others would have the kindness to do for me or for my child or someone that I love if one of us ever found ourselves in such an unsavory predicament.

I hope you all don't think that I have wonderful or exciting things to tell Keith-----he hears about mine and my kids' lives and my traffic tickets and demanding play rehearsals and Christmas trips, etc. I told him from the get-go (when he asked me to write to him) that all I could POSSIBLY talk about was the hum-drum life of a Southern housewife and her family. He has never complained. Yes, I am Catholic and visiting those in jail (writing is equivalent, I'm told) is one of the Corporal Works of Mercy, so, yes, part of it is for myself as I strive in my own discipleship of Christ. Gosh, I am glad, Joe, that we don't all get what we deserve in life. I'll bet you are glad too, if the truth be known. We all make mistakes----some bigger than any Keith has ever made and some not as big. Thinking about the lives that we have "carved out for ourselves" can get a little sad , don't you think? Some of us have "created OUR OWN prisons", to quote Stappy, so we don't need any made of steel and stone. I could not agree more that we all need to count our blessings more (something I have mentioned to you, in fact, on various occasions, myself) and whine and complain less. All I am saying is that helping out your fellow man can make you feel unspeakably good inside----a feeling that money can't buy.

BTW, I have begun to read "Mere Christianity" by C.S. Lewis that you recommended. It sure makes sense so far.

>From: "Joe Earles"

Feel free to live the life you've carved out for yourself as Keith does the same. Keith needs to start counting his blessings