Never Dull

My husband has an expression when new or surprising things happen and he has to adjust or accept. He says, "It's never dull." I don't like it when he says that- as if life is supposed to be constantly active and if it is slow or dull something must be wrong. That's because I'm a writer. We like things dull. We like things quiet, moving slowly. But, life isn't like that.

In life, we have to be flexible. We do have to adjust and accept change. And, actually, in writing conflict is key to keeping a reader's attention- whether it's a fast-paced thriller or an extended metaphor on seasonal change.

You would think life in prison might be perfect for the writer. And I have compared the discipline of writing to the discipline of being in a prison. It's a good metaphor in itself:  like the writer, the prisoner experiences a real distinction between what has to be done (most often for others) and the real need for self-expression in order to survive.

But, as in life on the outside, prison life is never dull. There are always changes. The group of women I have the privilege of working with is going through changes now. A new day. A new time. I have to adjust. Adjustment takes time. So, I won't be seeing my writing friends until the summer term when new schedules can accommodate. I will still collect writings and post. I will still hope for readers and connections.

Perhaps what I'm really saying is that I will miss them.

Scabies and Other Scary Things

Halloween has passed. October went somewhere. A lot has gone on since the last posting. I couldn't enter the prison for three weeks due to the entrance of scabies. Yes, those little mites had gotten through security, carried on the skin-contagious critters causing severe itching to those affected. The outbreak didn't spread widely but everything shut down. No classes. Staff did the cooking.

When the writers finally met again they were eager to write, even about the scabies. In this post are their thoughts on that experience, plus other scary things like teachers, getting back to "square one," even writing a blurb about themselves.

Let's start right here and get those scabies out of the way!

Wow, what a two weeks I had sitting in a dorm 
with no T-shirt or panties on. 
Just the brown uniform. 
Locked down with no property. 
Nothing to do but watch movies all day. 
Nowhere to go and nothing to  see 
but what the scabies has done to me. 
This all was very scary-but when it was over 
I was so happy to be free. 
I was ready to be all I could be-
and just be me.                                          
                                                          -Brooklyn

10-day treatment 
didn't cure the cause
Month's long adventures
Because it's not over y'all
Washed in the wrong treatment
But who would ever guess
The ones who gave us the OTC
Would be responsible for this
Back to square one
We've got to do it again
Don't they understand-
We need a vaccination, man?
                       -Determined LN

My prison world, as I know it, was turned upside down. All my clothes, personal belongings, including my children's pictures were taken away from me. Before this, I would have said something like this could never happen in a prison: shut down because of scabies.
I also would have said I couldn't live without my personal belongings, but I did.
This event made everyone equal. No one person had more than another. It was a big change and a nice one, especially to see who hid behind material things. But now the games of "who has what" begins again. Back to Square One.
                                                                                                                        -Princess007