What was the hardest prison habit to break after being released? Not me personally, but I know a guy

that said after he got out, he just wanted McDonald's. When he got there, he spent 20 minutes

staring at the menu, trying to decide what to order, because he just wasn't used to having

choices. Staring at sharp things. Like there's no desire to use them inappropriately, but you're just kind of shocked that

they're there and available for use.

You might be surprised what qualifies as a sharp object.

I remember whenever someone tried to hand me a knife or something to cut veggies,

I'd be afraid to touch it.

Glass was the biggest thing, though. Just mirrors in all the

bathrooms? Real ones? I could smash that crap and have a big jagged weapon. I can't believe

this Italian restaurant has such a dangerous thing in their bathroom. Stopping thinking of objects

as weapons is hard. One of my foster sons came to us from Juvie. Every meal his arm was around his plate

and he wolfed down his food. My Mestiff couldn't keep up. He always ate back to the wall,

hunched up. It took my wife and I about a month to show him that no one would take his food

and we had plenty more. Funny part is he went into the Marines and did eight years and got out

honourably and is now working in corrections. I had to win over his trust and that took time and a lot of

understanding on both sides. I've been very fortunate to have great boys that just needed to know

someone gave a damn. I always stuck to my word and was always fair and honest, hard work on the

farm and as much fun and care as they need. All of our boys went on to college or trade schools

or military careers. I still like having a stash of ramen pack somewhere, even if I'm not going to

eat them. Not wearing shoes in the shower, eating with forks and knives, having salt and pepper

for food, not always having to watch your back, being able to get food when you want it and just

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