CHRISTMAS DAY 2010

We awoke early this morning, all eagerly looking forward to visits with our loved ones at the Taft Camp. Carole and Rod were both up earlier than I was, it was the smell of fresh coffee wafting through the bedroom door that persuaded me out of the bed. Susie was the last to leave her warm, snuggly bed, she seemed content enough to languish a while longer.

The two of them were off and enroute just after 8 am, Rod and I were last out the door, 15 minutes later, for the 40 minute drive to the Camp. We were surprised to see how few cars were in the lot. Aside from Carole and Susie, Rod and I took up residence at maybe the 5th table of the many still unoccupied. That didn’t bode well…it meant "everyone" else would be arriving later, it being Christmas Day, stockings & gifts were being opened at homes prior to visitation, and when the crowds did descend on the Camp our visits would surely be terminated early.

However, with that in mind, we had already been in agreement with our loved ones that it would be a short day ... there were some good football games on the tv that our son wanted to see, and both Carole and Susie hoped to head out early as a big storm was approaching and they had miles to go!

We had a wonderful visit with Corey….as we always do! But being with him on Christmas Day is even more special. We celebrated another holiday “down”, with just 3 more Christmases till his release. In fact that third Christmas could very well be spent on the outs. How very excting that thought, and not so far away.

Corey told us a wonderful Christmas story. He and all the other inmates in his particular Unit (120 men altogether) had awoken that morning to a surprise gift from Santa. “Santa” turned out to be another inmate in the unit, who had taken it upon himself to arise very early and deposit a soda and a bag of popcorn to every single man in the unit. What a wonderful gesture….120 cans of soda and 120 bags of popcorn, all personally delivered before dawn!! One of the very best things about this season, that warms my heart and makes me eternally optimistic, is the goodness we see in our fellow man. This gentleman did not have to do this, in fact, Corey doesn’t even know him except in passing.

Our morning with our son passed far too quickly, but we hugged, we laughed, we were happy to be together. Just before noon however the guard stood and commanded all our attention. The lines of folks waiting to get in was very long and there were no more available tables, would anyone volunteer to leave prior to his having to consult his “list”? We, along with Carole and Susie were the first to volunteer…not that we were wanting to end our visits, but we had all agreed in advance (with Corey, and they with their husbands) to have a shorter than usual visit this day. We took our leave, each of us driving off in different directions, each of us with a light heart, just slightly tinged with sadness, all of us knowing this journey we were all on would soon end and the Christmases that awaited us all, for Susie next Christmas, for Carole in two years (or less!) and for us, in three, were going to be merry indeed.

How beautiful a day can be When kindness touches it!~George Elliston