How I spent my 52nd Birthday!

HOW I SPENT MY 52^ND BIRTHDAY:

"I turned 52 in prison doing life without parole...."  Or so goes the lyrics from an old Johnny Cash tune.  The years were changed to reflect the author AND the sentence is wrong.

Today was my birthday here and I didn't tell anyone.  I decided I wanted to forego the birthday sentiments from here and grow old quietly and gracefully.  I thought you might be interested on how my day was spent today. So here is a how my birthday went today.

I missed my wake alarm at 3:45 and slept to 4:12.  I was tired because my bunkie reads late at night and eats crackers from the noisy bag ,which kept me awake. I decided not to make it an issue.  Despite my late awakening, I still had plenty of time to have my quiet time with God.  It is the best time of the day when people are snoring and the farts are minimal.  I could see outside my window that it was foggy.  This means our schedule was going to be messed up.  The lieutenant does not like foggy days, as they believe we are all going to make a run for it.  Therefore we often do not go to work. There is a heightened sense of security when ever the visibility is reduced for fear of us slipping out of sight and scaling high fences and navigating through the coils of razor wire and dodging the bullets from the guard in the truck.  I guess it is possible one could make it out but not likely alive.

I checked the headlines on Fox and CNN to learn that ISIS is advancing, Ebola is multiplying, and they are still looking for flight 370, and a debate about a fan. This is also the day the workers at the Suds & Duds bring in our sheets and blankets and wash them at work.  It is one of the perks we get in the department.  I decided not to bring my bedding in and made my bed. I walked over to the other side of the lodge and looked out the windows on the compound.  It looked like the fog was moving out and that we would likely go to work after all.  So I grabbed my bedding and went to work when we were called.

6:00 am at the Suds & Duds. The morning started out fairly normal after  a near miss with the fog. We watched the fog ebb and flow on the compound and waited to see if they would call a fog watch.  I was sewing buttons on a uniform when I heard my counselor page my name to come and see him back at the lodge.  At 7:30 I walked across the compound to see and discover that he had updated my visitation list with a friend from Marshfield.  One of the four wise men from our small group at Northridge who are making plans to come and see me.  I checked my e-mail while I has in the lodge and found several from Jeannie.  I took my time reading them, enjoying every word.  I like her e-mails. After a quick read, I headed back to work only to meet my coworkers in the middle of the yard walking back to the lodge.  The lieutenant called a fog watch and closed the Suds & Duds.  I left my coffee cup at work and so were my sheets.  Oh well. So I went and watched more of the same news for awhile and then listened to Charles Stanley give a message on the Holy Spirit while I sat on my bare mattress.

8:30 Because of the fog watch they had to do a stand up count to make sure that no one got lost in the fog.

It was after 9:15 when they cleared the fog watch so we went over to the shop to finish our work. This is the time we normally head to short line for our lunch so our boss let us go eat.  It was also the time I had a callout (appointment in your world) to see the nurse.  I assume this was for my monthly B12 shot that I get.  So I decided to go to short line.  I figure that the medical office would be very delayed in getting to my appointment.  We waited as they got our fried chicken ready and then came the voice, "Erbst report to medical"  Nuts!  My second page for the day, which is very unusual.  There was nothing I could do since I was locked in the dirty spoon for this meal. They will have to wait and keep on paging me.

I finished my lunch and went over to medical and saw Ms. Pembroke.  I had my sleeve rolled up ready for a shot and she told me that it wasn't necessary.  I was confused and she explained that it was my annual appointment to give me the hemocult cards to check up on the dark side of the moon (If you know what I mean). Perhaps that was too much information.   She gave me the cards in a bio-hazard bag and told me that I would be back the next day to get my B12 shot.  It took every ounce of restraint inside of me to keep from asking the question "Why not do them both while I am here?"  This would imply an attitude by telling them there is a better way to their job.  So I remained quiet and told her I would be happy to come back the next day.

Now that this was done, I rushed back to work were we still had to finish up the days work.  I proudly displayed my bio-hazard bag to my co-workers to make them jealous but it didn't seem to work.  Then several of us headed over to commissary to pick up our shopping orders that we dropped off with the commissary workers while we were in short line together.  This is a privilege extended to us at the Suds & Duds only.  They room was standing room only and people were waiting upwards to an hour or two to get their orders filled.  We had our orders filled and we were out of there with in ten minutes.  It is a nice privilege but it is awkward at times when people are sneering at you going ahead of them.  The commissary just brought out a new item and I bought it.  It was my coveted prize for the day.  A bag of Oscar Meyer Real Bacon Bits!  It was hickory flavored.  This was my birthday treat today!

I went back to work and started hemming about a dozen brand new pants for our stock room.  Our boss is replacing pants more frequently so I am keeping busy lately prepping them.  Around 11:50 am we were wrapping up our work. Most of the guys left for the day but I hung around to do some sewing work for my friends who needed repair.  I started work on an old pair of shorts that had holes and needed new elastic. I should have advised him to throw them away as they were so worn out.  They had holes in them, and the elastic was shot.  The seam was coming apart.   I worked on that until 12:30 and cleaned up for the day so the boss could lock up the shop and head home for the day.

1:00 I was back at my cube and made my bed with the clean sheets.  I decided to skip my running today and relax.  I needed a nap but first I made a peanut butter wrap with a banana that I got in short line today.  I left the apple on top of my locker for a snack later.  I laid down and put my sleep mask on over my eyes while I listened to WORD FM.  It was not long before I fell asleep.

I woke up at 3:00 and went to check e-mail.  My celli, Nate, approached me and told that me our cube had been “shook down” by a notorious unfriendly cop. He had a reputation of being extremely rude and obnoxious. I asked him when it happened and he told me in the last hour while I was sleeping.  I scratched my head because it did not make sense.  The normal protocol for a shake down like this is to dismiss the residence of the cube. After all, a staff person should never turn their back on an inmate.  So while I slept, the Poo-lice went through our lockers looking for contraband and I did not even hear them.  Happy Birthday!  I went to see if I could see anything missing.  My apple was gone. I hope he enjoyed it. I did not see anything else missing but then again it is a full locker.  It creeps me out that the cop was two feet from head while I was sleeping.  But then again this is a creepy place. 

4:00 Daily stand up count to make sure we didn't leave.

4: 10 Mail call.  I got some birthday cards but nobody caught on that it was my birthday.  So far - so good.

4:30 we went to dinner.  Tonight's meal was scrambled eggs, biscuits and gravy and potatoes.  But I had a different plan.  I brought my bacon bits, tortilla shells, parmesan cheese and Adobo seasoning.  I made a bacon and egg breakfast burrito.  What a treat!  I could taste the bacon.  My dinner companions could smell the bacon.  I offered to share it with them but they turned it down.  I am good with that.

5:30  I returned the manuscript written by our odd Chaplin about his anti-trinitarian belief back to him to free up space in my locker. The title of the book is: "What the Trinitarian Doctrine Misses". And yes, it is published. I wanted to tell him how many ways he was wrong in his book but wisdom took over and I thanked him for letting me read it. 

6:00  Time for desert.  On Columbus Day they served us single servings of pumpkin pie.  I saved my slice for today.  I made a cup of decaf coffee and went to the TV room to watch more of the broken news on CNN. They were waiting for a helicopter to land at the Dallas hospital to take the ebola virus to Washington.  They must believe it was important for us to watch this event.  I sprinkled some cinnamon that was given to me by a friend in the kitchen on my pie and slowly enjoyed it with my coffee.  I also had a kit kat bar to satisfy my craving for chocolate.  What a great treat!  Enough of this news.

6:30 called Mom and Dad to catch up.  They are so proud of my nephew in his recovery.  They love to talk about their visits to see him every week.  I love to hear about it. This blesses my heart to hear! 

6:45 Checked e-mail and read the posts sent in by family and friends.  I was overwhelmed with emotion as I read them.  I realized how blessed I am to have so many people who know what I have done and still love me.  I know there are many men here who do not have this kind of support.  Many have not even told most of their friends what happened to them.  They don't know the freedom in being open, honest, and transparent. To have true community even if that community is spread out over several states.  Thank you my friends!

7:00 I went back to my cube and continued reading the Psalms in my read through the Bible in a year plan.  It was quiet and very nice.

8:00 I took my beard trimmer to the bathroom and gave myself a haircut to get ready for my visit tomorrow.  I asked Nate to help me with the back of my neck.  No blood was shed in the process.  This time.

9:00 Called my sweet bride to say hello.  I love talking to her as she grounds me.  She keeps me up to date on what is happening in the family.  9:10 the line went silent. We got disconnected.

9:30  Time for stand up count.  They need to make sure we are still here.

10:00 Sat on my bunk praying.  Too much distraction with people around me to concentrate. Ugh!

11:30 Finished this e-mail.  Good night and God Bless you all!

McFreedom