Last Bon Air Trip

It makes me really sad that I have to do my last post on here about going to Bon Air. A couple weeks ago, it probably wouldn’t have. But, I’ve formed such a good relationship with a person who I really admire and love having conversations with. We can talk about anything and Brian will always listen to me, laugh with me, and engage with me. I’m going to miss talking to him, but, I will definitely try and go back to visit over the next two years that he will be in Bon Air.

Tonight was my favorite night for sure. Me and Brian combined with Tilley and Sage. Maddy also joined us because her partner was in lock. Sage is a character and one of the most genuinely funny people I have ever met. He is the ultimate people pleaser and is extremely intelligent. He has clearly formed such a bond with Tilley, it was really awesome to see. All five of us talked and laughed the entire time. We were joking around, having deep conversations, and just overall having an amazing time. It was the most fun I have had pretty much since I have been at UR. I’ve found it pretty hard to find a group of friends here so being able to just let go of any tension or pressure and laugh with people that I genuinely had a good time with, was better than I realized it could be.

Sage read us what he had written and it stunned me how beautiful and philosophical it was. It was all about moving forward and having a better future, but he really analyzed his life poetically. It was definitely moving. But of course this made Brian not want to read what he had written so that he didn’t have to follow Sage. Yet, the three pages that Brian wrote were actually beautiful. Not to sound too analytical but it reminded me of Hemingway. His style was very simple, concrete, with hardly any abstractions. He told a story from his past that really allowed me to see wha this life was like through his eyes. It ended with, “This story is not why I am incarcerated, but it was a checkpoint on a long road.” That really hit me. His self-awareness is remarkable and so is his determination to change the situation he’s in.

I want to go back and visit really badly. I want to stay in touch with Brian because we really formed a close bond. I loved everyone in the group and I’m hoping we can meet up with them again because I really have learned so much about life and people. It’s easy to learn about things on paper, but it’s what you experience that changes you.