It seemed as if the Hulk was the one who unlocked our doors this morning, from how much noise they made trying to unlock it. So I am up early, I get ready, get my radio, and go watch some morning news while I wait for the ‘chow’ call. Heading around the lake, I get to the dining room, grab two milk cartons, a tray of bran cereal and I head to a table. Thankfully they have been providing sweetener packs because this cereal really has no taste, but it really helps with digestion. On my way back to the unit, with 610AM WIOD radio in one ear, the news they are reporting gives me chills, a lady and her 3 year old daughter are found in a body of water, inside of their 1960’s Impala after 50 years from their disappearance. My God, we need to be grateful each and every day that we continue with life even if at times we are going through struggles. I get to my unit, I put on my class A uniform, grab my mug and a tea bag, and head to the hot water and prepare my tea.
The officer in our unit yells out ‘Work Call’ and most of us head out of the unit for our daily activities or morning work. I get to the chapel, but the doors are locked. I don’t want to get caught outside when I shouldn’t be so I head back to the unit and wait until 8. I head back to the chapel, and wait a few minutes, now I see the supervisor chaplain walking towards the chapel. Today is chapel cleanup day, so I ask him to open the storage room, grab the cleaning supplies and get started. I move all 100 chairs out of the center of the chapel, scrub several spots as needed, then mop the floors. All this while listening to 89.7FM K-Love, which is truly positive and encouraging as they say.
I was able to finish just in time for the 10am recall back to the unit before lunch. I go check on Mr. Rivero, and he is laying in his bed with his headphones on, so I leave him there until the time gets closer to 11. Once chow is called we are headed down to the dining room, and today the dining room is packed. It’s chicken patty day, and very few choose to miss it. I grab both trays and hand them down to Mr. Rivero in his wheelchair, then we find a place to sit. He places the trays on table, folds his wheelchair and puts it aside as I head over to the water and ice machine to grab two cups before they run out. Yes, unfortunately there are not enough cups for everyone, so there is only available whatever they wash at that moment and bring out. Inmates don’t realize they hurt themselves with things they do in prison, like taking cups out of the dining room and now not having enough for everyone. I am able to grab two cups with ice and water, and head to the table. I eat only my chicken patty with the tomato on top, dipping it in the mayonnaise, and luckily, Mr. Rivero did not want all of his so I got an extra piece.
Directly after chow I drop off Mr. Rivero in front of his room, fold his wheelchair and place it in his room. I grab a styrofoam cup, put some instant Bustelo coffee and a sweetener in it, add hot water, and head to the chapel. Not much going on this afternoon, except a special service for the Jewish community, lead by our Rabbi Chaplain.
After count, I call my dad, tell Mr. Rivero I won’t be going to dinner; he is okay with it; and I head back to the chapel to prepare for tonight’s Alpha Week 7, English at 6pm and Spanish at 7pm. Both sessions were successful, great messages learned today. This weekend will be Alpha Weekend for the English service, I will explain more on it later.
I head back to the unit at the 8pm move, walk over to the phones, and call mom. Two days from now will be 35 months incarcerated, and still to this day, if I do not talk to my mom and dad every day, I feel empty, so I plan my days around my calls to my parents. I am now showered, eating some roasted salted peanuts, and finishing off my journal for the day. It is 8:51pm, and I want to leave you with this…..
Father God, I love you, and I thank you for everything you have allowed in my life, from the bad to the good. Don’t ever stop showing me that you are by my side, and guiding my every step in becoming a better man by your word. Watch over us all and take care of us, so that we may be able to take care of those who are in need of you. Thank you Lord Jesus, Amen.
