“If you could go back in time and repeat any winter holiday season, how old are you again? Who are you with? Where are you?”
“Asked on the Line” asked these questions of 30 men in blue and outside volunteers and staff from the Prison University Project (PUP), the San Quentin TRUST, the GED Program, and Free To Succeed.
Some had to think about it, but many replied right away as they shared their most memorable winter holiday and laughed.
Jose Camacho would be 7 years old again, with his family at a relative’s house in Mexico. Jeff Dukes, Louie Calvin and John Neblett would each be 5 again. Dukes would be in New Jersey, Calvin in Southern California, and Neblett would be at “92nd Street, between 1st and 2nd Avenue in Manhattan.”
Chris Scull would be 9 again with his family in Los Angeles, Jay Smith would be 10 again at home with his father, Jeff Long would be 8 again with his grandpa in Colorado, and both Daniel Jackson and Juan Haines would be 18 years old again. Jackson would be with his wife and kids in San Mateo, Calif., and Haines would be with his family in Atlantic City, N.J. Ron Moore would be 7 and with his mother on a train. “We were on the train on our way to Texas. While going through Arizona, at night, she gave me my Christmas gift to open before we got there.”
Among volunteers and staff, PUP volunteer Jennifer Lyons and GED tutor Kony Kim would both be 4 again. Lyons would be with her older sister at her grandparent’s home in Washington and Kim would be with her parents in Escondido, Calif. “I remember this was before they burst my bubble and told me that Santa Clause wasn’t real!” said Kony.
PUP tutors Jackie Nelson, Preeya Khanna and Karen Lovaas would be 7 again and with their parents. Jackie would be in Chicago, Preeya Khanna would be in Boston, and Karen Lovaas would be in College Park, Md.
Mary Donovan said she would be 5 again with her parents. “I remember moving back to the U.S. from Australia with my mom to reunite with my dad. It was a happy, but awkward experience.”
Debra Winn, chief sponsor of San Quentin TRUST, would be 15 again at her parent’s house. “The whole family would be there. I am talking about the whole clan,” said Winn.
Joe Spinelli, a tutor with Free to Succeed, would be in his 30s with his wife and children, along with both of their parents, and his favorite aunt. “It was at my house in San Anselmo. I remember that we had a very, very nice Christmas.”
PUP tutor Maria Joseph would be 35 again with her kids when they were living in an old house. “I was with my kids and we were dancing and putting on shows,” said Joseph.
