Just Another Day at Atwood
My old bunkie is preparing for her visit with her sister today who she has not seen since she has been locked up; six years. She is happy, but filled with anxiety. When she gets anxious, she gets busy. Last night she ran a whole bakery, making cinnamon rolls. I think she made over a dozen of them. They were so good.
Great is My Faithfulness
I feel the weight of the anxiety coming down on me. It has been a long road and there is still more to go, but I would like a little relief. I have been the "go to" and support for a lot of women in here, interpreting policies, explaining their computation sheets, and discussing issues with the unit team, all while not having my own stuff in place. Today, I felt like I needed the type of support that I have been for others. I needed an outlet, so I hit the track and talked to the one who can make it happen...GOD.
Earning Freedom
This morning, I woke up early and finished reading the book Earning Freedom by Michael Santos. In the final chapters of the book Santos talked about his journey to success which began with defining what success meant to him. This encouraged me to think about what success means too.
OG Birthday
My first born had her 25th birthday. In here they call you an OG once you reach 25. During our visit last week she told me that she was not looking forward to her birthday this year because I would not be there. My daughter informed me that this was the first birthday of hers I ever missed. She also wanted to make sure that I did not break our family tradition and that I called her to tell her her birth story, something I do with all of my girls on their special day.
God Did
She is as solid as a rock, unwavering, and dedicated. I will miss seeing her walking to her room, only a few doors down, with her zebra-like hair swaying. She has been a demonstration of what it means to be accountable, focused, committed, and confident; all of the attributes I will continue to strive to improve upon in my own life.
Slow Saturday
Today has been the least exciting and or productive Saturday I have had since being here.
Freaky Friday
I then headed to medical to find out what was going on. The nurse informed me that the appointment was a follow-up because there was an area of concern they wanted to take a closer look at. Hearing this caused me great concern. I tried to stay positive and not stress about it. Although it felt nice to leave the campus, this is not quite the way I wanted to do it. My mind was all over the place. All I could think about was being sick in prison.
Goodbye King Harold
Around 7:30am a huge crowd gathered at the front door to watch King Harold take her steps into the free world. Even though I have seen so many leave at this point, I still get emotional every time. There was a lady standing near me who looked at me and stated, "I can't wait for my time to come." I replied, "we will all have our day." And that is so true. For me, that day will be sooner rather than later.
Julie Chrisley Has Arrived At FMC Lexington!
After coming out of my class, word spread that Julie Chrisley had arrived and was in R&D (Receiving & Discharge). The counselors here had already assigned her to a room; an 8-man room that we call the Devil's Den. That room earned the name rightfully because in the summer it is blazing hot. Like myself, this will be a drastic change from the comfortable life Chrisley is used to living.
Unquestionably Free
On Sunday mornings at 9 am I have a standing date with El Chapo, LOL. "El Chapo" is no nonsense, Hispanic, workout junkie from Texas, who I used to work out with. She also happens to be another one of the tutors in the education department with me and she is also my work wife's bunkie. She and I meet on Sunday mornings for church - Joel Osteen on Lifetime.
Julie Chrisley Coming to Atwood?
I received word that Julie Chrisley is supposed to report here to FMC Lexington on Tuesday. This will make for an eventful week. It will definitely give me a lot to blog about because I am sure things will get interesting with a reality show celebrity here.
Parenting in Separation
My concern about my credit update was overshadowed by my conversation with my daughters regarding Ness. The principal requested a meeting to discuss what was going on with our family and Ness. He mentioned that he had seen a change in her behavior; she was more aggressive.
The Land of Oz
In the middle of electrical class, the sound of a train began to penetrate the bottom floor of the 1930 building we are housed in. The whistle echoed as if the wind was singing a melodic song the tune of the dark, cloudy Kentucky sky. Our instructor urged us to move to the interior room after the windows were forcibly opened by the pounding gusts of wind. We were informed that a tornado warning had been issued for the area.
Little Miss Mismatch
Want to talk about a rough start to my day? LOL! First I woke up and thought it was Saturday. What does this mean? I did not put on my uniform, instead, I walked into the chow hall with my greys on and got yelled at. Good thing I keep in mind what my work wife told me…embarrassment is a choice.
Let The Games Begin
Oh, what a glorious day! The credits are finally coming in. Around 9 am this morning, while in electrical class, I learned that the first set of immediate releases had been announced. I ran inside to call my friend to check the dates for myself and my friends.
Any Given Monday
As I sat in church, AKA the TV room, watching Joel Osteen, I could see officers combing the area around the track near the camp. Later it was revealed that a man was found on campus, passed out with drugs and meth on him. He either wandered off or was in the middle of a drop. Who knows, but he picked the wrong place to pass out, LOL.
A Kid on Christmas Eve
I feel like a kid on Christmas Eve. I am so excited! Tomorrow, I will stand in the middle of history. I just want to be a part of the energy. I want to bear witness to the tears, the joy, the anxiety, all of it. In the years to come this will be the topic of a lot of theses and dissertations, argued in numerous courtrooms, and written in school books. But most importantly, and the part that brings me to tears, there will be a lot of kids receiving tight hugs this week.
Peaceful Saturday
One of my friends asked me yesterday what my plans were when I leave. While I think I know, there are parts of me that know and other parts that are unsure and afraid. But fear is overrated, and even if I do feel the fear I am going to do it anyway.
TGIF
Today, I sat back and thought about how I am coping and what that looks like for me. I realized that I have coped by staying busy. I have taken so many classes, taught a lot of classes, and filled my days with reading and writing. I am setting the intention to slow down and really be with myself more. So tonight I snuck off, alone, to the GED classroom to journal and read. It took a lot for me to stay present and not rush through the process because I knew that people were probably wondering where I was.
Who Robbed The Library?
My work wife lost her brother today. She is taking it pretty well considering the circumstances. That has been my biggest fear, losing someone while incarcerated. When I hear stories about people who have lost parents, spouses, kids, etc. my heart goes out to them. I pray daily for my family's safety and health.