Yesterday I moved to the “Dog Wing”. There is an outside organization that provides dogs, mostly young Labrador retrievers to live here at the camp that are cared for and trained by campers designated as dog handlers. The dogs live in the cubical with the dog handler like it would if it was a pet living with its owners although the dogs are not allowed to sleep on the handlers bed. The housing units have four different wings with 32 residents in each wing. The dog wing has 28 campers to accommodate the 4 dogs who call this place home at least temporarily. I don’t have a dog living in my cubical and I’m not an official dog handler. Having a dog is as American as baseball and apple pie and brings a level of normalcy to daily life here at the camp. I’m glad to be living among them. There are cultures within the camp culture and each wing has its own. The atmosphere is ever changing as this place is a revolving door but each wing seems to keep its culture in check. Certain wings are loud, many stay up all night and there is little consideration for those who do not. Banging dominoes on the table, yelling and arguing over who is a better rapper or sports figure are common and counter productive. The dog wing is dead quiet. People respect each and other pretty much follow the rules. The wing I just came from has been slowly changing since I arrived and it was time to beat feet. A person can move anywhere they choose as long as the other roommates sign a form to verify that he is welcome. The employees will never challenge a move as it is in the camps best interests to allow people to live with those they get along with. It is also common for people to go “roommate hunting”. If there is an open bed it will quickly be filled with a new arrival if left empty. The philosophy is the devil you know is better than the devil you don’t. Birds of a feather flock together and my circle is made up of like minded people who are taking advantage of this time to plan and grow. A few are financially set and will not need to do anything except enjoy life when they leave. Others will start new businesses and make up for lost time and lost money. We all will have the scarlet letter of being a felon. But does that label even matter? If you try to fit into society or better stated the mold society will put you in, it could be a major stumbling block. Getting employment or finding housing with the stigmatism of felon around your neck could be daunting. I have come to understand and I have written before there are two types of people here, those who committed a crime and criminals. Both are the same in the eyes of society but that is like saying the sky is green, the ocean is yellow and believing it. Those who committed a crime acknowledge past mistakes and work towards earning trust and educating themselves to a higher level. They are critical thinkers and will return to being contributing members of their communities. They are laser on focused on the future, are constantly reinventing themselves, they network and make the most of this time away from family and friends. They speak of deeper things and contemplate their place in this world and how they will contribute to the greater good and make amends for the pain they have caused. I expect that the felon label will have little to no effect on my life because I will not let it. I embrace it and will use it to my benefit and for the benefit of others.
