This past week was the first week that I spent in Alexander housing unit, also known as general population. The environment is not as clean or organized as my prior housing unit had been. If you read any blog excerpts from the summertime, I often mentioned how the other units do not have air conditioning and would literally feel like saunas inside. Well, this is where I now reside. Why the move?
When the announcement to close FPC Morgantown was made, many operational and programming protocols were stopped. I was living in a designated housing unit for drug and alcohol recovery. While I was waiting to formally begin the program in January, this particular program ceased, which is why I had to be moved back to general population. The idea is to separate recovery population from general population as a way to prevent relapses and unwanted influences. Without the program continuing at Morgantown, I must wait until I am transferred to another location to complete it, which hopefully happens before the weather becomes too warm 🙂
As I type this entry, a guy has been cutting another inmates hair within arms reach of me (I sat by a window so all the hair blows away from me). Any available space in this housing unit is utilized since it is near capacity for available bunks. General population does have more access to contraband and loosely follow prison rules. To avoid many unwanted situations, I keep a pretty routine daily schedule that hasn’t changed for the past two years: wake-up, breakfast, shower, work, lunch, work some more, dinner, pickleball or band practice, shower, and sleep. For the past week, I have enjoyed sleeping next to a window with fresh spring breezes…the other housing unit does not have windows that open. When I meet other guys that transfer to Morgantown from other prisons, I often ask them if their housing units had air conditioning. “Of course,” or “yup” is the typically answer.
While I do not have anything new to report this week, I remain optimistic that the closure of FPC Morgantown will happen sooner than later. Selfishly, I would like to transfer to another institution as soon as possible so I do not have to wait to begin programming or be stuck in this housing unit during the summer months. I do appreciate you taking time and checking in…and for all the positivity and encouragement that you share with me. I hope you and your loved ones have a blessed week. Please remember to be mindful of any little miracle in your life this week 🙂