The tale is far better then I could have imagined - fraught with tension up until he arrived and then smooth sailing the whole way to Walmart! Ha hah

I arrived in LA

While driving on the highway with Tamara the camera woman, we get a call from Sheila

Her first words are "you aren't going to like this" and I immediately thought - oh we missed his arrival time and we wont be able to shoot that first moment -

But she said "the parole officer just called to say he is being delayed - maybe until Tuesday"

It was Thursday and I had just flown back to LA, having been delayed just last week for some obsure reasons

He had been given 24-78 hours and here it was 9 days later and it was being delayed again

GIVE ME THE PHONE NUMBER!!!

It was all I could do to be nice

I got on the phone

We recorded this part and she, the Parole Officer, assured me he would not get out today

Maybe not until Tuesday

I was furious

She said, "You ought to be happy he is getting out at all, he is a lifer!'

I kept my cool, decided to keep driving toward his sisters house and just say hi, before we returned to LA to wait AGAIN

We got there, filmed Sheila a bit, and then Tamara went home to LA to be with her family

For some strange reason I decided to stay with Sheila and rent a car the next day to get back to LA

Sheila got ready to go out for her bowling 

Her husband Reggie came home and we were going to watch Obama when the phone rang

It was the Parole Officer

Kenny was ready to get picked up at the Parole Office in 20 minutes!

Wow, did we holler and shout and called Sheila

We will meet you at the office!

Called Tamara

Come back!

She was half way to LA

She turned around and we were driving to get Kenny!

Within minutes he walked out of the office

And we hugged and headed home ready to celebrate.  
We ate barbecue ribs, Kenny's favorite and watched Obama, realizing Kenny had been released on a day of history

Not only was a black nominated for President

but

This was the exact day 45 years earlier that Martin Luther King said his "I Have a Dream' speech

So did Kenny and it was being fulfilled.

After all that we went off to go shopping-- underwear, tooth brush, toothpaste, soap, all the way to a watermelon, jeans, deodorant
Never had so much fun at a Walmart!

Right up to when we got to the till and the check out lady was puzzled as I showed Kenny how to use the ATM machine and he explained,

"I just got of prison today after 27 years so I am just learning"

she smiled, and said "Wow! Hard to imagine!"

Next morning,our first meal - just Ken and Deb - was at IHOP.

Kenny was dreaming of blueberry pancakes and fresh orange juice--
Even I ate a big breakfast!

Those that know me know I dont eat much but suddenly I was so hungry and the food at IHOP tasted so good!

What a shopping day we had

We bought a bed, got Ken's eyes checked and picked out eye glasses , went to get a cell phone, his ID updated and we got screamed at in the social security office and the parole office when the cameras were running. Oops that was a mistake. No cameras in federal buildings!!!

In fact, at the social security office they were going to call the police if we didnt show them the footage and erase it right then

"No, no police." Kenny pleaded

It only took a minute but sure was a bit tenuous.

We ate, he had his first smoothie and LOVED it,  and listened to music

Opened the windows and sang out loud...

First thing out of the car--when he had just arrived--Kenny noticed grass...it's all on film as he bent down to touch it and looked at the trees

Constantly singing songs of thanks.

This was funny because just before leaving I had a dream that we were all at a Thanksgiving dinner and even though I dont like turkey I took a piece. ha ha hah
Every meal felt like that..  LIke it was a celebration sitting next to this very tall 6 2" bald black man with his freshly bought clothes and innocent eyes that never stopped appreciating.

As you can imagine there were so many firsts:

In the evening, each night Kenny wanted a bath - hadn't done that in a Long Long time

Eating fresh fruit
The car we called the living in our space ship cuz it was so big and comfy for Kenny... as we drove around in his sister's SUV.

It was incredible how much at home we all were

I was welcomed into their home as if I was a relative

And truthfully

I realized I am colorblind

I do feel like we are family.

We prayed together

We acknowledged the invisible power that brought us together

God was ever present!

So much more to tell

I hope this didn't bore you 

Trying to minimize the tale and just give you the highlights.

I am going to take some time and go deep

And write the aching of my heart

There is so much injustice that occurs in the presence of color and seperation