Beginning week number two her at Camp Fed Ft Dix and it is occurring to me that this place can teach so many lessons on so many levels. I think I’d like to speak about material things and what they mean and don’t mean. I have noticed how very little I really need in here and what little things have value. A quick example, today was “Welfare Wednesday” in camp, it happens once a month, the second Weds. of each month. This is a give away from the BOP to the inmates, it is 4 rolls of toilet paper, some shampoo, a tooth brush, some disposable razors and a small tube of tooth past, of course the TP is gold, platinum in fact. I never would have believed that 4 rolls of TP for free would be so appreciated and looked forward to, not just by me but by most of the camp, because I would say over 65% of the camp stood in line in the blazing sun and tropical humidity for over an hour to get, and we were glad we did.
It was the highlight of the day in fact for many of us. Which brings me to my next point, I’ve learned in this very short week to appreciate the smallest of good gestures and kindness, things on the outside I probably would not have noticed or given a second thought to. I mentioned to one of the inmates I was having some heartburn, we were together on the track walking, he said to me to keep walking, he would be right back and within 5 minutes he was back with 3 over the counter indigestion pills, and these are pills that have to be purchased at the commissary. He handed them to me and just said, feel better, don’t worry about returning them I have plenty. That’s how it is here among many of the inmates, an openness to share and a willingness to care about another persons well being.
I’ve also come to realize that we can really get along in far less space than I ever would have considered as long as we stay civil and polite to one another and respect one another’s space. I’m now living out of a locker that is 2 feet wide and 5.5 feet high, that’s it, all of my possessions, clothes, meds, sanitary necessities, books, writing material, everything is stored in there. I never would have dreamt this possible, but it works. I continue to learn and continue to be amazed at our resiliency and where with all.
Yeah, now the work begins! You know our society should place more value on alone time! Maybe I cherish it after raising 5 kids. Oh Solly is sill fighting technology and if you had a longer sentence he just might get in. I do hope he’s reading this but I’ll forgo my Columbia University joke. He did tell me that Susan Fox had retired to Tucson and they had a sit down recently. Small world. Keep star gazing….FF