CHRISTMAS WEEK AT CAMP ELKTON - PART 2

Many of the guys have already torn through their Christmas bags and devoured its contents.  There is real lack of self-control here.  I'm not suggesting that I have mastered the discipline.  I have a long way to go to have complete self-control.  But I have saved my Christmas bag.  It remains unopened waiting for the right occasion to open it - perhaps on the anniversary of my departure from the SHU.  After all, that is when I received my first bag from last year.

Christmas is a special time here with the daily mail call.  The big red mailbags are more full than usual.  We delight in the extra work the cops have to heave those mailbags onto the counter.  The smart ones use a wheeled cart to bring them in and then assign an inmate to lift it and dump it on the counter where our four e-mail computers sit.  We stand anxious to hear our name called only to respond with "pass" to have the mail handed to us like an old fashioned bucket brigade.

I received many cards and letters this season.  It is always encouraging to get a card or note from you all.  Thank you so much for sending them to me.  One of my favorite cards came from my wife.  She always has the perfect words on her cards; not only the words she writes, but the ones printed in gold or silver.  I am convinced that she either writes the message on the card and sends it to hallmark for printing or she knows someone there who writes them specifically for her.  They are always the best.  Besides her perfect cards, she sends me great pictures.  She sent me a picture of the Christmas tree Jake cut down for her this year.  It looks just as I remember it.  Full of lots of lights and ornaments and the tree itself is very full.  This is no Charlie Brown tree!  I have this picture tucked in ledge of the bunk above me so I can look at it as I lay down.  Along with this photo are the pictures of the Christmas cookies she made.  They look so good I want to eat the photo.  Yes I got many cards. And I thank each of you for the kind greetings you sent to me.  Christmas is way better out of the SHU.

Christmas day was a good day to sleep in.  Especially when this cold of mine is settling in.  We had some very light snow fall and it was quite cold outside.  I walked the hallway greeting everyone with a cheerful Merry Christmas greeting as we passed.  Even to my atheist and Buddhist friends received my greeting.  As much as they grumble over the greeting, they still partake in the holiday.  Christmas dinner was very nicely done over at the “Dirty Spoon Diner”.  We had roast turkey, ham glazed with maple syrup, stuffing, mashed potatoes, green beans with sliced mushrooms in them (I found two mushrooms) and of course, cranberry jelly.  It was all very good and there was so much of it.  I saved my ham and put it in an instant coffee bag and slid into my pocket for latter.  The pecan pie was the same as what we had for thanksgiving and it too made it's way back to my cubicle.  Thank goodness for big pockets in the jackets and elastic waste bands on pants!

That's the news from Camp Elkton this week.  It was a good week.  I miss my family but I enjoyed talking to many of you on the phone in those 15 minute slices of time.  I hope you all had a great time with your family and friends this Christmas season.  Don't forget why we celebrate Christmas each year.  It is not for the discounts, sales and special deals; It is not about the best gift or the biggest gift we get; Instead it is simply about Jesus.  He is the reason we can celebrate.  God gave Jesus to us as his gift to us so we can be reconciled to Him; to save us; so we can live forever with him IF we accept him.  He brings us love, He brings us healing, He brings us hope.  That is the best gift we could ever receive.  All we need to do is accept it.

May God bless you this Christmas

Love,

McFreedom