August 10, 2012

Hello, World!

Why is it that when we are traveling on a road of knowledge, familiarity, and productivity, and we come upon a crossroad of change and the unknown, we fight the turning wheel? I believe it is a lack of trust, either in ourselves or in God. I face this possibility.

Under a federal court order to reduce its inmate population, California is restructuring its prison system. Parolees are not being returned to prison for technical violations but only after committing new felonies. This change has reduced the population by 30,000. New offenders who are sentenced to five years or less remain in county jails. These changes have emptied the low level prison housing units, specifically level II. Level I is the lowest and least restrictive. Level IV is maximum security. The administration has also readjusted the level I-IV criteria. This changes my level from a III to a II. I am now eligible for transfer.

Now, common sense says a lower level prison with less restrictions would be desirable. Hold that thought and throw out common sense when it comes to prison and inmates. Lifers like me learn a backward way of thinking for survival and sanity purposes. Less is definitely not more. Level III is cell living. Even with two men in a 5x12 room, there is a measure of privacy, a place to retreat from the noise and drama of the prison yard.

Level II is dorm living. That's 150-300 men in one room living on double beds. No privacy. Constant noise. Drama, drama, drama. Level II housing was designed for inmates serving short sentences. The intolerable is endured because freedom is near. These housing units were not designed for forever. (sigh) This is the crossroad of change and the unknown facing me.

Now we get back to trust, or lack thereof. As we do, I laugh. I chide myself. I say, "I know, I know, Lord. Yours are still the only footprints in the sand." Along this very long shoreline, each turn not of my making has brought only blessings. I have been presented with opportunities to grow spiritually under wise and timid chaplains. I've been offered employment in the law library where my legal skills were helpful to many. I've taken courses to become certified in Microsoft suite. This allowed me to accept my current position as the computer guru in the laundry. While there, I've become certified to manage industrial laundries. Each change brought opportunities that would not have occurred if I had not embraced the change.

So why can't I embrace the crossroad ahead? Because I'm a stupid and silly man. However, I do know that God laughs with me, not at me, and says, "Don't worry. I won't let you down." I really love the bench.

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