“well I just wanted to tell you that you made my day” – Bon Air Week 3

This week we were without Professor Dolson. I said I was okay with it, and I was, but I was also nervous. On the bus ride over I worried the boys would be more crazy than they usually are or take advantage of the situation. For the first time ever, the boys were not there when we arrived. When the boys walked in they looked excited, I could just feel that something was different about the vibe of the room tonight.

My partner, Alexander, was back this week. I was super excited to see him and hear if he was able to see his daughter. We heard the prompt and broke off, before we could even talk about the prompt, he blurted out with a huge smile that he was getting out in 40 days. And to top it all off, he had gotten to see his daughter for her first birthday. Our conversation flowed so easily. We bonded over small things, our shared love of the NY Giants and watching football, chipotle, and little kids. I felt so relaxed and I think he did too. He shared that he has been writing poetry in his journal, so I am super glad they have them.

We went back into the big group and the most organic conversation about our favorite animals happened. We all laughed together and I just felt like I was with a group of new friends. The more casual atmosphere that not having Professor Dolson there or to much structure really benefited our experience this time. We looked at the second prompt and the boys did not want to answer that one and seemed really adamant about making their own prompt, so we let them. It was my partner who came up with the prompt we all settled on. “Share about a time someone made your day or you made someone else’s.”

We broke off again and I told my story and he told his emotional story about saving a friend’s life who he is now really close to. But what got me was what he said after. He said that the he though of this prompt because he wanted to tell me that I made his day remembering his daughter’s birthday and small details about our first interaction.

That almost brought me to tears, but it was time to leave. So I gave him a handshake and said bye. I had such a great time and hope to have two more really great visits to Bon Air.