"Now Love has bent the pathway of my life." Pietro Bembo, "Gli Asolani"

01-04-16

Dear readers,

If anyone has read my blog, you know I've taken a long time off. I don't have an excuse.

I believe I last left off when I was in the "Hole" in El Reno. I left on Oct. 13—less than a year after I arrived. That's a lot that's happened in the past months, but I might as well start where I left off.

Several of us were gathered up for the short bus ride to Oklahoma City, including this guy who assaulted me. Fortunately, he was kept separate. We arrived at the central transfer center for the B.O.P. + since there were only a few of us, it didn't take us long as usual to be processed.

After we were processed, I was put in a cell with one of the guys that came with me from El Reno. I had never spoken to the guy while at El Reno, but once in the cell, we started talking + he turned out to be nice. After we were locked down that night, he turned out to be Really Nice. I definitely wanted to stay longer, especially since the Transfer Center is a pretty laid-back place to be. I was SO PISSED when I was woken up at 1 AM or so that next morning to get on a place, "Con Air."

I was praying the whole time that I wouldn't end up in Atlanta. The time I went to Butner we flew directly there, so I thought I might be in luck since I was going farther north. No such luck. We made one stop in Jacksonville, FL + then it was Atlanta.

The transfer center in Atlanta, GA, sucks. It's run like you're in the Hole (Segregation) still—even though it's slightly better than it was years ago when I was stuck there for 5 weeks.

You're locked in a cell there all day except for a couple hours Mon-Fri when you're let out to shower, use the phone, or email. Otherwise, you're stuck— + all day on weekends. Plus, the prison is about 100 years old + it's filthy + usually you see mice (although I didn't this time).

Well, I was stuck there for a week. Until that Friday I was with a cellie who freaked me out a little, but I was alone after that.

So, on Oct. 20, I was woken up in the wee hours of the morning. I had hoped that I would be put on a plane, but once again my luck was out. A bunch of us were put on a bus for the long bus ride to Petersburg, Va.

Oh! I forgot that part in my narrative. While still at El Reno I was told that I would be going to the northeast region, which I was dreading. I had asked if I could be recommended to go to Petersburg because I heard it was a good spot. I found out in Oklahoma City that I was in fact going to Petersburg! I had to ask twice because I thought I had heard wrong. What a relief to find out that I was going there.

Okay, back to the bus. I think we finally left at 5:30 AM after a few hours being processed. Ironically we stopped at Butner on the way to Virginia + made stops at all the compounds there—from where I had left less than a year previously. That was strange.

So... here I am in Petersburg, VA. It really is the best place I've been to so far. There are flaws, of course, but this place is very laid back + there are tons of open gays, unlike El Reno. For once, I can be myself + not have to worry (too much) about how people will act. I am so much better off.

More details to follow...

Love + Blessings,
Kelly