Today being the holiday known as Juneteenth, we look forward to calm day with a special meal.
I’m awaken at 8:45am by AIC Pita. Today is his first program review (also known here as “team”) with our case manager. He has been non stop asking about this, so he could have a better understanding of the time he will be serving in the BOP. He says he was not going to see the case manager without me, because he knows I will find out everything he needs to know, will be trustworthy with my translation, and keep him at ease. AIC Pita is 71 years old, and I know how it was coming into prison at the age of 35, I could just imagine how he must feel starting in prison at his age.
He thanks me for helping him, and I excuse myself, head to my room to have myself a cafecito. I notice the restroom downstairs in the Glasshouse has urine on the floor by the toilet. I have trouble understanding these guys and the way they do things around here. I get with the orderly, Peewee, and put some rubber boots on, pour some chemicals in a bucket, grab a deck brush, and a squeegee, and we begin scrubbing and hosing down the restroom using the hot water line with the connected small hose.
As we are cleaning the restroom, three different guys came at different times asking if they could use the restroom. Peewee and I just looked at each other in shock that they would even ask to use the restroom as we are scrubbing away, with water all over the place. We ask them to please use the upstairs restroom.
Count clears, can’t wait to get to the chow hall to see what meal we have for today. We wait and wait. I push AIC Rivero in his wheelchair over to the main door to wait for our unit to be called and be the first ones out. We see through the door window, the guys from other units are returning to their units with styrofoam trays in hand, which means it’s a grab-n-go meal. The officer waves us out and we head to the dining room, grab our trays and head back to the unit. I leave AIC Rivero in his room and head over to my room with my tray. Chicken leg, with a blob of BBQ sauce stuck on it, one potato, green beans, one slice of bread and a piece of tasteless cake. What happened to the BBQ chicken, mac and cheese, watermelon, everyone was saying there was? I hear AIC Rivero call for me and ask if I want his piece of chicken because he is not going to eat it, so I go over to his room and bring it back to mine to share with my roommate.
After lunch, I hang out in the unit, watch some television and then sit with a newcomer, AIC Willy to talk about cars. He use to sell them, and I enjoy them. I look down at my watch and it’s soon to be count time.
The officers leave the unit after count, and I put my shoes on to wait for dinner. Menu shows “chicken fajitas”. I am pulled aside by a few guys who only speak Spanish, asking me if I could help them each with a “request to staff”. I bring them over to my room, pull out two forms, and write each one for them. They are calling for chow, so I hurry and we head out. Dinner is also grab-n-go, and in the tray there is shredded chicken, white rice, corn, black beans, tomato sauce with jalapenos and onion, and two tortillas. I get back to my room and this time AIC Campos calls me over to give me his shredded chicken. Two blessings in one day?
I want to get out to the rec yard and get some fresh air, so as soon as they call the six o’clock move, I am head towards the yard. Past the gate I go, and I head to the softball field to watch the game they have going on. Those days of me playing softball here are over for me. It seems the “umpire” is never right, and each team knows more than the other, plus the field has more holes in the field than a minefield, so I prefer to stay away from the conflicts and injuries, HAHA.
I take the 7pm move back to the unit, and head to my room to read my devotionals for the day.
“There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
[Galatians 3:28]
This is perfect!!!! Especially in prison, as everyone is with their “own”. The blacks, the whites, these, and those. I hate it! I try so hard to show others it doesn’t matter what you look like, or where you are from, I help whoever walks through those doors without looking at color, race, conviction, etc. From past years, on this day, like most holidays, they give us special meals. Juneteenth specifically they give us what I think to be one of my favorites. Today though, as you read above, the meal was not so special, and while I sat in my room eating my chicken, I heard a group of guys near my room saying, “This meal is garbage, if this would have been a “white” holiday, the meal would have been amazing, like July 4, the meal is always great”. As much as I wanted to say something, I held back because I know exactly how explosive their response would be, since every situation with them leads to something racial, and somehow all white people are racist. This is all even though these same guys read the same devotional book I read, and spend more time with the Bible than I do, very sad to see. “Scripture teaches that diverse peoples united through faith in Christ best reflect God’s heart and is His plan for life in eternity.” – Lisa M. Samra. Every day is a challenge for me, to do what I can to show others it is okay to be there for others, no matter who they are. My only hope is they are able to see the good, and notice God’s works through me, so that they may some day know how great it feels to help someone different than they.
Time to call mom before it gets too late. It is always nice to hear their voices. Time for a shower, relax with some television, most likely “Gutfeld” on Fox News at 10pm, then sleep, as I have a busy day tomorrow.
Father God thank you for this day and all the good things You continue to do, and how You continuously show me You are here working in me and guiding my life in a positive way. Dear Jesus, help me love others through the unity only made possible in You. Watch over me as we end this week, be with me tomorrow, and guide Mr. Nicolas through his duties so we may smoothly complete our tasks without any hesitation. Thank you God for all you do, and I pray to be home as soon as You feel is best for me. My life is in Your hands dear Lord, Amen.
Eduardo Luis Valdes
02499-506
June 19, 2025
21:26
