School of the Hard Knocks

September 2008- My birthday was getting close and I started to become depressed. It was hard for me to be in there and not with my family. Over the past couple of months I had formed my own little family and learned to play pinochle. My friends Mandy and Rachel were in a relationship and Kristin was my "little sister". Rachel was 'daddy' and Mandy was 'mama'. Kinda crazy but whatever.It made our harsh surroundings not seem so bleek.

The funny thing about Lurds was this: One minute they were the man the next the woman. Or they would scream how they were gay their whole lives but had five kids at home with their mamas and their baby daddy coming to see them every weekend. They really were a trip.

The season started to change the thunderstorms would remind me of my dad and I would pray that God would see me through the storm. This was all about perseverance and faith and knowing that I was going to come out this a better person.

I had also built relationships with the older women in there and loved every minute of the time I spent with them. Ms.Doris was an older black woman that worked in the staff kitchen. She kept it real and kept a smile on her face. She didn't mind telling anybody how she felt. Every time certain c.o.'s would allow us to run wild and raise hell she would go directly to the supervisor and complain, but she would always tell that she told it. Ms. Donna was Ms. Doris's ace boon coon. They played cards together and talked everyday I'm not sure if it was because the maturity level or just that they had done so much time they just knew the easiest way to pull  time. Ms. Donna was very quite and kept to herself. She used to crochet and knit some of the most beautiful shower bags and various different arts and crafts it was real talent. For my birthday she made me a jewelry box with a slot for a picture at the top that her and Ms. Doris packed full of candy. I still have that jewelry box to this day. She put so much thought and effort into it was amazing! They used to call me George because one day I got tired of people calling my name while I was trying to rest. I got up mad and said " I wish ya'll would stop calling my name before I change it!" Ms. Doris laughs and says to me "Well, what you want them to call you?" The only name I could think of was 'George'. She laughed and laughed so from that day forward that's all they would call me.

These women would always be in my heart throughout all the years that have transpired from then to now.  Being a number in the system instead of a human being was despicable but people like them made the time go by so much and taught me the lesson of humility.