In the movie, O’Brother Where Art Though, there is a long country road where they ride down in an old coupe.
I have this vision of myself, in the movie that is this phase of my life, me dancing out of prison. The song that is playing as I dance along is,” The Moon is Made of Gold ” – Rickie lee jones
Today has been the best day here at Aliceville. I woke up to snow flurries and extreme cold. I went out to work, we made sure the compound was up to speed, my co-workers picked up trash while I made certain the flower beds were all as lovely as they can be this time of year. I swept around them.
Knowing it was going to freeze overnight, I made sure to get plenty of dandelions yesterday, so I can eat good for the next few days.
Next, we went to recreation where I did a great deal of cardio, strength training and abs. The girls played volley ball in the gym. The entire unit had to turn out to rec due to the contractors from outside who are installing new cameras.
At 2pm, I went to the visitation room for a think tank meeting. Today I spent a good deal of time outlining our collective goals for the next 90 days and getting the think tank members to commit to what roles they will play in the coming months, and in my absence.
It is my belief that a woman named Cat Voss is more than suited to direct the think tank when I am gone. She is more than capable, she has an undetermined and long amount of time to commit to the program. I know her heart, and the hearts of the others who I have such a deep bond with, knowing that we would all be here together for so many years, and now suddenly, I am leaving- well there must be a pang.
My friend Angela, a lifer, says I have survivors guilt.
I am definitely the type of person who, in a ship wreck, would swim back until I rescued as many as possible.
I will never really leave them behind. I know that I will be able to advocate for them on the outside much more than I can within these walls.
I wrote on the board, ” THE COLLECTIVE, We are only as strong as our leadership.”
When I called roll, there were 2 of the units ( out of 12 ) not represented by a Peer Success Leader, nor did they send a “second “. I think that is a pretty do-able challenge, pretty great odds.
In response to this ongoing issue, I called for a vote. I threw out a possible amendment to our Bi-laws/ Code of Conduct
pertaining to absence. We found the right words, and called to a vote. In the end, we put in place a policy that states that each leader may have one absence per 90 days and it is her responsibility to send her second in her stead yet- she may only send her second 1 time per 90 days.
But that is only solving a small portion of the problem. Actually, the parallel that I draw is that of stress.
In the book BURNOUT, I learned that if you simply manage the stress, for instance, do yoga or meditate, paint whatever; but yet you return the to source of the stress day after day, like a job where the conditions are poor, you remain on the stress loop.
So, our next task in the meeting, naturally becomes a plan of action. Who are the chronically absent? Ok, so who sees them the most? Voss and Vee raise their hands, they both have a daily interaction at their job with the mentors in question.
Perfect. They plan to speak with them.
The next step is to offer them the support they need. If they are not present in the think tank meetings, it’s very likely they have given up, at least in part. Our job now becomes helping them to get their units’ Peer Success Team better trained.
Previously, I have been able to coordinate between all the leaders, out on compound I have only been able to accomplish what I have as far as building this program because in this world where we live in 12 different units but yet we cannot call each other or collaborate easily.
I was able to type things up-our agenda- at my own expense on this very computer. Next I would take them to one department to get copied and then I was able to pick the copies up and distribute them to the various units.
Today, I suggested that they draw strength from the Underground Railroad. I reminded them that they will have to come up with a system.
Later, in my room, I took the precious dandelion, cleaned it in cold water and salt then laid it out to dry.
The officer who was working was one who I have worked for over the years. He likes to ask details about plants and gardening. He is the absolute definition of a kind, southern gentleman. He reminds me of someone who would go to my mother’s church in Nashville. Tonight at mail call, he told me he wanted to run something by me.
I went back to making dinner. In a bowl, I placed half of a Thai noodle package, let the hot water make the noodles soft.
Then I added garlic, Thai tuna steak, peppers, omega mix and dandelions and a little parmesan cheese, and a shake of dried oregano.
When I finished eating my soup, I went to see what the officer had going on. I wasn’t surprised when he said he was putting in a garden for an older woman at his church. Her husband died and she wanted to grow flowers everywhere. He wanted to know what to plant.
I was just talking to my friend Mike about relationships and how in this generation ( and perhaps the ones previously ) have dummed down so much, even the concept of how anyone we are relating to is a relationship and we should honor those spaces.
Building and maintaining relationships could be the title of this journal entry. These are key componants of success, wherever you find yourself. In this case, I have formed a healthy working relationship with various officers here as they have seen me on the same schedule every day, tending the gardens, being respectful and courteous, and willing to do whatever they needed out on the yard.
What a perfect ending to a beautiful day. Naturally, I have a list of what flowers grow best in this area. I also gave him some ideas of what he can plant that will host the birds and butterflies. She will love that!
One of my fondest memories is of the times in my life when I would have so many flowers in my yard, I would take bouquets
to my neighbors. The fact that I will soon be able to do that again, is slowing sinking in to my soul and it’s more than exciting.
I am pleased with the legacy I leave behind.
Having accomplished so much here, under such difficult circumstances, I know I will be able to do all I have set my mind to do in the next phase of my life.
