Alarm sounding, it’s cold in here, and as much as I would like to stay covered in my bunk, I must get up. Today December 4, 2024, it’s a very eventful day!
Dressed and ready I walk towards the Glasshouse entrance, open the door, turn to my left and walk past the kitchen area over to Mr. Rivero’s room. Through his door window I see notice his light is on and he is almost ready to go, but desperately needs a brush for his hair. One quick musical knock and I open the door, “HAPPY BIRTHDAY MR. RIVERO!!!!!!!!!” I sing to him.
“Gracias, gracias, me mire en el espejo a ver si por casualidad cambio algo de mi, pero sigo igual”, he responds and I join him in a good laugh. It is a good thing this 89 year old has a good sense of humor, even while incarcerated and it being 5:40am.
Wheelchair is ready to go, I remind him of his I.D. and he grabs his jacket. Soon after, they call “CHOW”, and I push him in his chair out the main door.
“Beep, Beep, Beep, Birthday Boy coming through”, I say as I steer him around the slow-pokes and around the lake over to the dining room. Several guys already know it’s his birthday so we have constant visitors at our table wishing him a great day. Out to the commissary we go, and I squeeze him into a space by the other wheelchairs as we wait to be called. With this weather, we hope to get called soon.
“Rivero!”, I hear them calling and I rush over to window three to let them know we are there, as Mr. Rivero arrives shortly after. As they scan the items to me, I place them all in his laundry bag. “Happy Birthday Mr. Rivero”, the officer says through the opening in the window separator. “What a nice guy”, I thought, as Mr. Rivero responds with a thank you. My name is called now, and I get my bag ready and fill it up. We are done here, and heading back to the unit to put our things away.
Once everything is nicely stuffed into my locker, I grab a small cafecito and my daily readings. Most definitely my favorite today comes from the “Jesus First for Men 365 Devotions To Start Your Day”.
“In all the work you are doing, work the best you can. Work as if you were doing it for the Lord, not for people.
[Colossians 3:23]
I love this verse. I try sharing this verse around here with others who say I do too much for the chapel, and help too much. I enjoy responding to them when I tell them, “I do it because I love to help. I enjoy what I do, and always try to go above and beyond, hoping others will take my actions to heart and do the same. To always work hard, and do it for God, not for others. God will repay you more than you will ever make financially working anywhere.
It’s almost the 9am move, and I see Mr. Jaramillo looking for me to assist him going over to another unit and speaking with his case manager. Thankfully after sitting and going through everything he needed, he understood more clearly after receiving the information he was looking for and we were both very thankful and appreciative with the case manager for being so attentive, resourceful and helpful. Back to the unit we go to wait for lunch.
Mr. Rivero is ready to ride on over to the dining room to give me his burger meat which he does not like to eat. I think he just wants to go and be seen by everyone who hasn’t wished him a Happy Birthday. I don’t blame him, and I will sacrifice and eat the burger so he doesn’t have to; HAHA.
Mr. Rivero was like a celebrity, as we wheeled on over to chow. Many guys were stopping us to say hello, more than usual today. The burger was better than before, thicker and juicier. I was blessed with three total burger patties (don’t judge, they are small burger patties), and I took the bun, cut it in half just to have a top and bottom to the burger, placed some lettuce and the tomato slices, some mustard, and very much enjoyed it with the fries we were given.
Today we have Catholic and Santeria services, so immediately after eating, I take both trays to the dish room, and return to get Mr. Rivero’s wheelchair opened, and get going. Once leaving the dining room we are stopped by an officer to be searched, make sure we aren’t trying to sneak anything out of the chow hall, with no concern, I give Mr. Rivero over to one officer and after checking the chair and Mr. Rivero, he checks me, thanks us and we continue on our way.
Time to hurry and make it to the chapel before the move is over. Dropping off Mr. Rivero at his room and putting his chair inside, I quickly head back out of the unit but when I arrive at the chapel, I am turned away by the supervisor chaplain.
“We are in a meeting, come back later”, he tells me.
“Chaplain remember we have services in 45 minutes, and we need to prepare. If I go back to the unit, I won’t be able to return until there is a move”, I remind him.
“Okay, okay, we call for you, or we go get you”, he finishes telling me as he shuts the door.
Waiting in the unit, I hear the officer call the move, I look at my watch, it’s 12:35. I have 25 minutes to prepare everything we need, game on.
Mr. Escudero is behind me, heading to the chapel; we split up to handle different chores. He handles the sweeping of the main chapel, as I head to the restroom to clean and disinfect the toilet and sink area. Lights are on, sign-in sheets are set out and the altar is prepped with purple for Advent. No volunteer was able to make it this week, so it was AIC lead today, and Mr. Robles-Hoyos, a Colombian native took charge, while I assisted the chaplain getting what she needs for the Santeria group.
Services ended, lights are off, I send Mr. Escudero back to the unit and I stay behind to look at some lists for Chaplain Kulungu’s classes he is in charge of. I was able to get a total of 31 enrollments for this next class starting in January. The chaplain took the list and made a photocopy of it, so I can keep the binder in order, he locks the doors of the chapel and I head back to my unit for count.
Being Mr. Rivero’s birthday today, Mr. Campos planned on putting a meal together for him and a few others to celebrate his day, so my plan is to take the first move to the chapel, set everything up for the Jewish study group, and head back to the unit to eat together with the guys. As count clears, I head to the phones, and call dad. Was good talking to him as always, he is doing okay. The move is called, and over to the chapel I go, only to find that Chaplain Estrin rescheduled the study for tomorrow evening.
“Go enjoy your dinner, and I will see you tomorrow”, he tells me.
“Yes sir, thank you good sir, have a great night”, I respond as I head out of the office back to the unit, only to find Mr. Rivero waiting at the main door.
“Que haces aqui, esperando pill-line?”, I ask him.
“Si, llevo tres dias sin las gotas de los ojos, y tengo mucha molestia”, he responds, so I stand with him to wait for the call and we set out over to medical and see if his eye-drops are ready but the lady in the window says they will not be ready for another two days. I feel for him when things like this happen, but I am unable to do much more to help.
I walk by his side back on over to the unit. Mr. Campos is standing by the door, waving us over to hurry so we could eat. We all gather at Mr. Campos’ room, as he begins to fill each persons bowl with food. I take my bowl and my roommates over to our room and we both sit at the table to eat.
We feel disgusted by how much we ate. Thankfully we ate early and we won’t feel this bad by the time we fall asleep. Time to call mom, and was able to also speak with mima and Adi (step-dad nickname). As I sit here typing away, my roommate just drops off three oatmeal cookies wrapped in a napkin, what an excellent gesture. It’s time to end the day, it’s almost lockdown, and need to help Mr. Rivero with an electronic request to medical, shower, and sit to watch “Gutfeld”.
Father God, thank you once again today for an excellent and positive day. Thank you for Mr. Rivero and those good people you have surrounded me with even under these circumstances. Thank you Father for watching over my family and friends. Please Dear Lord don’t ever leave my side, and I pray you will provide me a chance to sleep peacefully tonight and wake up to a new day with new challenges, that through you I will overcome. Amen.
Eduardo Luis Valdes
02499-506
December 4, 2024
21:20
