Next Career Move…Kinda
It took a whole weekend of prayer and silence to decide that...I am quitting my fabulous kitchen job and moving into the education department. Yes, my time with the floors is over. I am hanging up my steel-toed boots ladies and gentlemen. I have the first signature needed to move this week, hopefully. You might wonder why the decision was so hard. I was torn because of time. See, my kitchen floor cleaning job literally takes me less than an hour a day. The teaching position in the education department is slightly over four hours per day. Same pay; $19 per month. Yes, you read that correctly, I only make $19 per month. This is a working camp, so not working is not an option. I debated switching my super easy job of one hour a day for a four hour a day job. What it came down to is this…Proverbs 9:9 "Teach the wise, and they will be wiser. Teach the righteous, and they will learn more." This was the scripture I read this morning during my spiritual practice time. My ancestors spoke. So, the deal is done. I have been studying Proverbs because it was my grandmother’s favorite book in the bible.
Forward motion. There is something or someone there for me.
Now, I will admit I will miss the kitchen. Some guards let us get a second plate at lunch or dinner, not that is anything you really want seconds of. I mean it is certainly no Ruth's Chris. However, those extra apples come in handy at night. BUT the kitchen is getting a little...TOXIC.
If you have never heard of the prison hustle, let me break it down for you. Everything here is a hustle. I mean everything. Remember, I am locked up with 200 women. And they are either in here for one of two things; drugs or money. Pick one. And the hustle never stops. So ALLEGEDLY (because I do not know anything for certain, I only mop the floors) food is being taken from the kitchen. When I say taken, I mean without permission. I am not talking leftovers. I am talking about jars of mayo, peanut butter, loaves of bread...ALLEGEDLY, in my Wendy Williams voice. This is all according to www.INMATE.COM (the prison gossip). The hustle has gotten so bad that we are having a meeting tomorrow about it; we being the kitchen staff. I am not with the shits. I am not going to the SHU (Special Housing Unit) over no prison mayo that is not even real. Yawl can have it. I am not going behind the fence (higher level security prison). I want no parts. Nadda. So, me and my happy hips are going to the basement to the Education Department. Not exactly the illustrious university faculty position I just left, but hey, I have to use this degree somehow. And...as I was sitting with my decision this weekend, something (my soul) said, "be who you are no matter where you are." Ase'
Dr. Richardson checking in to Atwood University. Stay tuned.
