…and almost two weeks later, we are upgraded from a full lockdown to moderate lockdown, and start on my journals once again. For the last 13 days or so, my days have been, inside the unit talking to my buddies near me, eating, sleeping, and reading my daily devotionals. Due to the lockdowns, our ways of communication were deactivated, our visits, cancelled, commissary restricted, and televisions shut off.
Today Wednesday January 8, 2024, I slept through breakfast, as we were still on full lockdown, and the food was brought to our unit. I was out of bed by 8:30am, in the restroom getting washed up and hair brushed. I was able to speak with my case manager and counselor today, simply to say hello and ask if there are any updates.
By lunch, they brought us our trays to the unit. We were given a hamburger patty, bun, lettuce, one tomato slice, cold soggy fries, apple sauce, a pack of mayonnaise and a pack of ketchup. I traded Mr. Campos his burger patty for my hamburger bun and I used both patties as the bun to the tomato and lettuce, added the mayo and enjoyed.
After washing down the food with the water from my bottle, I grab my daily devotionals and Bible and begin reading. As I was getting through it the rabbi chaplain arrives to say hello, and asks if I would like to go to the chapel. After all these days, there was no decision making, I quickly jumped out of my chair, asked him to give me five minutes. I put my class-A uniform on, brushed my teeth, checked my hair for imperfections, and left with him over to the chapel.
Oh what a mess I found in the chapel. The sign-in sheets completely out of order and all over my desk. The chapel floor was disgusting to me, and only God knows when the restroom was last cleaned. No time for much though, it’s almost 1pm for Catholic Service. With Chaplain Estrin we begin preparing the chapel, turning the signs to “Open”, setting out the sign-in sheets, and as I decorate the altar and set up the microphone, the chaplain steps out to receive the volunteer and escort him from the lobby. Once everything was setup, I sit at my desk to fix the paperwork and and also remove all the 2024 sign-in sheets to archive them for the next five years and be ready for program review.
By 3pm, I am on my way back to the unit. As soon as I walk in, Mr. Campos is yelling over to me.
“Eduardo, apurate, que te van a sacar del Glasshouse”, he tells me and I quickly head up to see my counselor before he leaves. I don’t want to be removed from the Glasshouse.
After speaking with the counselor, thankfully, I was not removed from the Glasshouse and everything was worked out. I thank him, and head to my room for the four PM count.
We are told we will be going to the dining room to grab our dinner today, so as soon as count clears and the officer is opening the doors, I put my shoes on and grab my jacket, it’s getting cold tonight. Mr. Rivero made himself something to eat, so I am on my own this evening. Today the menu reads scrambled eggs, potatoes, grits for dinner. As soon as they call “CHOW” we are on our way out. It’s quite nippy outside, but with the walk, it isn’t too bad. Down the way, and around the lake, into the dining room, they are waiting for us, to hand us our trays. I grab my styrofoam tray and head out and back to the unit. I see the chaplain in the distance.
“Chaplain, will you be able to come get me tonight to work?”, I ask him as I approach were he is standing.
“No, unfortunately they are not letting me get anyone from your unit, I’m sorry”, he tells me.
“Alrighty then, no worries, thank you, take care, see you next week hopefully”, I respond as I continue on my way back to the unit.
Back in the unit once again, I head to my room, place my tray on my table, and grab some seasonings. First the Adobo seasoning for the scrambled eggs, potatoes and grits. Then some Italian seasoning on top of that to “spice” things up. I will say it was not too bad. But then the two biscuits they gave us were hard enough to rip someone’s dentures right out, so after eating one, I gave the other away. Now at least since I know I won’t be going anywhere, I grab my towel, soap, shampoo, clothes, and head to the shower.
Out of the shower, and putting things back in my room, hanging up my towel, I head to the phones. Calling dad to see how he is doing, then I sit down with Mr. Rivero as he is explaining to me he wants to write an electronic request to medical regarding his medication.
“Ve y escribe todo lo que necesitas que yo envie, y lo hago, apurate por siacaso nos cierran temprano”, I tell him, to make sure he is able to write it all down for me to type in case they lock us in early for whatever reason.
“Si, voy hacer eso, pero no creo que cierren hasta despues de las nueve”, he responds with hope we will be open until the 9:30 lockdown.
I sit down at the computer to type up my journal, and a few minutes later they call lockdown. I stand up from the chair and see the guys in the unit going back and forth heading to their rooms before being locked out of their rooms. For some reason I had that feeling it would happen. Bon-Bon is calling me from Mr. Campos’ room to help him with something, and from there I head to the phones to call mom. We caught up on a few things after not being able to talk for quite some time, and once hanging up the phone, I head back to Mr. Campos room, but first I stop in my room to grab a bag of pita chips, my Nutella jar and a utensil and go back to his room. Between Bon-Bon, Freddy (a newcomer), Mr. Campos and I we enjoyed some chips and Nutella, and now it is the 10pm count time.
In these lockdowns it’s important to stick to yourself, stay away from the gossip, and use down-time in a positive way. I pray Father God asking that you forgive me as I have forgiven myself and others. I try each and every day to be better than I was the day before. I ask dear Lord that you continue to put me on the path you want me to be on. Please watch over my family, friends and loved ones. I ask dear God for a good night sleep tonight, and tomorrow being considered a holiday here, that you allow me to sleep peacefully and wake up to a new day with whatever you have planned for me. Amen.
Eduardo Luis Valdes
02499-506
January 8, 2025
22:34
