July 28, 2012

Hello, World!

After 26 years in prison, I began to believe that I had seen it all. Well, it's not true.

I have seen an officer drop his weapon from the gun rail after falling asleep. To prevent from getting into trouble, he lowered a bucket on a rope and asked a convicted murderer to place the handgun in it. The next day, when the inmate returned from work, he found a pepperoni pizza and a six-pack of Coors beer in his cell. Not a beer drinker, the inmate traded it for a case of V8s.

I have seen a winter week without the use of toilets because the uninsulated rooftop water pipes froze and broke. Two port-a-potties were brought onto the recreation yard for the 1,000 inmates to use.

I have seen a week when only boiled water was drinkable due to cross-contamination with spilled sewage. Only a third of the prison's inmates possessed hot pots to boil the water.

I have seen an evening meal of casserole canceled and replaced with cold bologna sandwiches because the dinner was poisoned with disinfectant.

I have seen cake desserts thrown out when razor blades where discovered in the frosting.

These incidents, as with the one that follows, were resolved by staff in a timely manner, but they all give me reason to reflect on God's protection of me.

Last night, as I prepared to exit my cell to go to the day room to call home before the opening ceremony of the London Olympics, the following announcement came over the building speaker system: "Attention in the housing unit: Your soap has been recalled. Use of it will cause skin cancer. Slide any bars that you may have under your door and it will be replaced."

I looked at the four-inch scar on the back of my hand where the surgeon cut out the cancer and gave out a hearty laugh. I then said, "Now I have seen it all." That is until the next thing comes along and I ignorantly repeat the phrase.

Keeping their word, prison officials passed out half a bar of Tone soap to each inmate. Ah... creamy. :)

Thanks for checking in on me.

Cordially,
[signature]
Gregory Barnes Watson
D-67547 C-14-104-U
PO BOX 409060
Ione, CA 95640

Novel: A Thundering Wind
https://www.amazon.com/Thundering-Wind-Gregory-Barnes-Watson/dp/0615379443