Over the past few weeks, a younger guy, 28, from Lorain County has a top bunk cattycornered from my cube. He is quite outgoing and shared so many shocking yet amazing stories of his entrepreneurial endeavors, also known as hustling. In explaining his criminal journey, he fully accepts responsibility, and I believe truly wants to never commit another crime or put his loved ones in danger again. He distributed marijuana buy the semitruck loads, which as I understand is a heck of a lot. Of the most extreme stories, he had been kidnapped by a dozen thugs, who threatened his life and used a gun to smash in his face causing multiple fractures. Between that experience and being arrested, he has turned a 180 from his criminal enterprises.
I, then, shared the story of my situation, and he was just astounded by how unbecoming my situation was. He received a 60 month sentence which included many other guys, and certainly shared some feedback at how my sentence of 78 months seemed to be quite a stretch. Emphatically, he stressed that he is done with crime. His father was a criminal, which he compares him to the character Gollum from Lord of the Rings, and reflected how growing up with a dad who would steal Christmas presents to pawn them for drugs or steal his childhood friends’ PlayStation or bicycle to sell it for drug money. His genuine testament to turn from crime inspired me. I asked him why he thought many guys turn back to crime once being released from prison. He quipped, “We are criminals – we think like criminals. We are programmed to try and get away with things.” He continued to say, “Look, you’re not really criminal so you and about 4 other guys in this camp don’t understand actual crime.” I share this encounter, because I believe that he captured the essence of the typical thought pattern of guys in prison. Many guys have criminal pasts and are constantly thinking about their next hustle instead of truly reforming, and thus, recidivating. I hope this little glimpse at least portrays the mindset of many of the guys that I encounter daily.
Over the past week, my schedule has certainly filled up with a lot of activity to keep me active. Monday through Friday is electrical work – just work and learning quite a bit with the commercial side of things. I did make $5.25 for the month of January. Yup, the first month of full-time work is $5.25. I put away 10% for my retirement 🙂 Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sundays are band practice for the two bands that I am playing in. The newest band that I just joined, Two Point Enhancement, likes older rock songs, and they are perfectionists when it comes to playing them. I am doing much better learning the songs, but I have not heard of any of the 15 songs that they play. I like the challenge of growth and branching beyond my comfort zone of typical Elton John and Billy Joel songs, which a few I have actually mastered 🙂 Years ago, I would not have imagined myself playing near perfect Elton songs: Your Song, Tiny Dancer, Daniel, Sacrifice, Crocodile Rock, etc. I have not approached the priest about playing for Mass since there is already a piano player. The guy does try, but the music is still to the quality of a middle-school recital…I could at least take it to junior high caliber!
Wednesday and Thursday evenings are learning hobby crafts of leather work and crocheting. I am doing well with crocheting, at least for a beginner. I am just about done with my first stuffed bear. However, there was a problem with obtaining the leather materials, so our class has just been watching How To videos. On Tuesday afternoons, I am just about done with my last class for personal finance, which has been a fascinating class from many perspectives. Of course, Sundays and some holy days, I attend Catholic Mass, which has really been growing in numbers. We are averaging about 20 guys versus the typical 10-12 that regularly attend. Sprinkled in between all these activities are the other tasks: waiting in line on Thursdays for about 2 hours to buy toiletries or going ever other week to pick up the rationed two rolls of toilet paper.
Overall, the week went really well and was able to enjoy so beautiful spring-like weather for two days. I hope you all have a blessed week…continue to be open to the little miracles in your life!