"Last Words"

In the far left corner of my apartment, between the doormat and the book shelf... I now have the Internet in my apartment (thank you to 12 dollars and kind neighbors on the other side of the building). I am conscious of keeping my red wine on the tile of the entry way and off the carpet... and aware that I do not yet have cable or the energy to head to the bar to watch the Steelers game.

I've been thinking a lot about my mother this past week, who raised four children alone working night shifts as a nurse in the trauma unit. She started working nights when my dad passed to increase the time she could spend on us... I think years passed where she spent days not sleeping more than three hours at a time. Staying up all night writing papers, I guess I have it easy.

Anyways, I wanted to draw your attention to an article I stumbled upon a few weeks ago titled "Last Words."

An author/ journalist Claire Cameron wrote the last words of execution prisoners she found in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice website, published in the NY Times. Here are a few pieces of what she found.

Go ahead?

Nothing I can say can change the past.

I done lost my voice.

I would like to say goodbye.

I am nervous and it is hard to put my thoughts together.

I don't think that the world will be a better or safer place without me.

I am sorry.

I am taking it like a man.

I couldn't do a life sentence.

Let my son know I love him.

I want to tell my mom that I love her.

Lord I lift your name on high.

From Allah we came and to Allah we shall return.

For everybody incarcerated, keep your heads up.