TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS

I myself haven't completely bought into my sons thoughts these years on celebrating this holiday...mostly because like it or not this is our reality for now, that reality will change in due course, but for now since it is an inconceivable fact, that every year Christmas WILL arrive. Early in this journey, I determine I wanted to "keep" Christmas, even though it meant in a very limited capacity where our son was concerned. But that these years would pass, and memories would be made, and those memories of Christmas need not be marred by this experience, not if I could help it.

Every year Corey has been incarcerated my husband and I mail him all manner of cards, mostly humorous ones, as we begin to enter and pass through the Christmas season. From the first Christmas in prison, to the present one, I have made a practice of seeking out and mailing Corey gifts marking the Twelve Days of Christmas". Mail call is the single best part of any inmates day so I figured this would only add to his anticipation in those days. Being severly limited as to what I can send him, as inmates in our nations Federal Prisons, unlike those in State Prisons, are not allowed care packages, I can only send books, magazines, printed paper products in other words. And so I shower him with a 12 day barrage of special editions of various books, some humorous, some compelling reads (many from a wish list he updates for me) and those magazines that are mostly filled with articles and recaps of the past years events.

I recall an especially creative gift he was sent, years back, from a loving friend, a calendar wherein photos taken of them, taken in the prison visitation room, were photo shopped onto pictures of places elsewhere in the world...beaches, resorts, restaurents, etc...so he could imagine himself actually being at these places with the turning of every calendar page. I think that one gift has to have been one of his most memorable Christmas gifts received in these years.

Perhaps he's just humoring me when he acknowledges and comments on the things I send him, generally they elicit some joking response or witty comment, but I've come to believe he does find himself, if grudgingly, being drawn into the festivities. And so my work is done, my purpose achieved.


"In everyone's life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit. " ~ Albert Schweitzer

MACYS PARADE COMES TO TAFT

Initially Corey had told us there would be no Unit decorating contest this year. Apparently they would still allow the men to decorate, but no prizes would be awarded. I don't know how many of the 3 units at Taft Camp decided to go ahead with their plans (plans that had already been in motion prior to the no prize news) but Corey's unit did. And from how Corey described what they put together this year I was highly impressed and much cheered!

Their theme this year was the Macy's Christmas Parade! From the most humble of materials, cardboard boxes and paints to assemble floats, and whatever they could rummage up to use for costumes, these talented men pulled off an event enjoyed by all. In fact the "event" was so well thought out, carried out, and received, that they were asked to repeat the "performance" a second time so all the Staff and men from other units could see it! Besides the assorted "floats" and assorted "characters", they even had 2 "commentators" exchanging witty and humorous descriptions to the crowd assembled.

Seems the staff at Taft had so enjoyed the Parade, they rewarded the mens efforts with small goody bags for all (candy bar, soda, cookie). But the biggest reward had to have been the fun and excitement of creating and being involved in the event itself.

My son opted not to participate in the event, but he was one of the many who assembled to watch and applaud the passing parade. Corey does his best to ignore the passing days of Christmas every year, he says it is the one particular holiday every year that makes him feel the most separated from the world he is exiled from. He keeps close to his heart memories of the family Christmases prior to his incarceration, but he says he prefers that memories of Christmas spent in prison not be part of those. Christmas to Corey simply marks the passing of another year of his long sentence. But even Corey, as we drug every last detail out of him, of this enacted Macys event, had a certain twinkle in his eye, affirming to me he HAD been infected with the spirit of Christmas after all this year.

"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are." ~ Theodore Roosevelt

Christmas 2011 reflections

Having, in the stroke of a pen, completely obliterated our much anticipated plans to visit Corey on Christmas Day, Rod and I arrived at the prison the following day. We stood in line at 9 am (visitation opens at 8 am) in hopes of avoiding being asked to leave as the room would (inevitably) fill to over-capacity. On busy "holidays" we try to make sure we are at least the 10th car in the lot. And the charging of points on Christmas Day itself would have made that day virtually "visitor free", but would overload the following day, the "free day." Ultimately, after having waited in line to be processed, behind just 2 other visitors, it was closer to 10 am before we sat with our son. The one Officer scheduled to work, processing visitors, on this busy day is known for his "why hurry, it all pays the same" attitude, and clearly, having had to work the holiday weekend did nothing to better his mood! Despite the late start to our visit by 1 pm we were still required to leave to make room for new-comers.

I spoke with other women friends who were visiting, all of whom had planned all month to spend Christmas day with their loved on. All expressed regret, disappointment, and anger, at Taft prison's, left-to-the-last-minute, decision to require points on Christmas Day, something not required in all the years we have been visiting at this facility. Its CHRISTMAS for heavens sake! Another sad commentary on the reality of confinement in america's prisons, and the collateral punishments inflicted on all.

I had written a letter to the Warden expressing my great disappointment when we'd learned the news, not in hopes of a reprieve, I'm not that naive, but mostly to spotlight the mean-spirited short notice agenda which didn't allow the inmates to plan for a guaranteed Christmas Day visit with their loved ones. I did get a call back , not from the Warden, but from another Officer we've had interactions with in the past years (not all good) who left a message that his response would "not be what I wanted" (no surprises there), but to call him back if I wanted an "explanation". By then it was late afternoon, Christmas eve, he was not available when I called back, but it was all moot anyways, and I really wasn't in the mood to hear him spout hypocritical prison propoganda, I mean, "policy".

Taft Prison's actions regarding Christmas visitiation completely flies in the face of BOP (Bureau of Prisons) policy - Visitation Policy " §540.40. The Bureau of Prisons encourages visiting by family, friends, and community groups to maintain the morale of the inmate and to develop closer relationships between the inmate and family members or others in the community." Oh really? Then why the roadblocks to simple visits on the most special holiday of the year? Of course, being a "private-for-profit" prison, owned and run by the large corporation MTC (Management Training Corporation) these private prisons make their own rules and profit is always the primary focus. Policy propoganda like this, as well as Taft's BIONIC message that we see framed and posted on prison walls (which translates to "Believe it or Not, We Care")- really?! - adds to the cynical attitudes of those of us personally familiar with the reality of prison life in America.

But my rant, if you will, above is small in scope to the journey in its entirety, I simply wished to illustrate one single day, albeit the most spiritual of all days, in america's prisons.


Sometimes the littlest things in life are the hardest to take. You can sit on a mountain more comfortably than on a tack. ~Author Unknown

WHATS FOR DESSERT?

Every Christmas that I can remember I have made a trifle pudding for dessert. I also usually always served a steamed figgy pudding (one of my grandfathers old recipes served with my mothers to-die-for rum sauce concocted from whipped cream, butter, eggs, powdered sugar, and some rum) along with assorted pies, tarts, cookies, etc. Oh yes, desserts were always a highlight at Christmas! However the past years we've been here in California, where it has mostly just been Rod and I at home for Christmas, I've cut back to just one special dessert to go with our Christmas dinner. Generally I always settle on a Trifle Pudding. The word "trifle" comes from the old French term "trufle," and literally means something whimsical or of little consequence. A "proper" English trifle is made with real egg custard poured over sponge cake soaked in fruit and sherry and topped with whipped cream. When the boys were small this was one of their favorite desserts, and my mother always loved the simple, old fashioned, but always beautiful dessert.

My Trifles were comprised of whatever fruits were available, and/or jam, generally any "red" variety, and some cake. I liked to use peaches and rasberry combinations, angel food cake, and a custard made from fresh whipped cream combined with a vanilla pudding. I would layer the fruit, cake and pudding mixture, decorating the top with something like fresh berries or holly leaves, anything at hand that was festive.

Last christmas I whipped up a Tiramisu Brownie Trifle that was incredibly decadent and amazing! We'd had friends staying with us last Christmas and as I couldn't decide which dessert to make I made two, the brownie trifle and a simple to make, but truly wonderful to look at (!!) and even better to eat dessert called Etan Mess (if you go back to my December 2010 blogs you will see a picture and description of it there.

This year I came across a recipe for a Cranberry Orange Trifle, and as our orange tree is now loaded to the gills with juicy oranges this seemed the perfect choice. So here it is, and like with any trifle I have ever made, it is delicious! So if you are still searching for a eyecatching, delicious, yet simple to make dessert for Christmas this year, give this one a try.

Ingredients:
2 navel oranges
1 bag(s) (12 ounces) fresh cranberries, (about 3 cups) *or 2 cans canned Cranberries
1 1/4 cup(s) water
1 cup(s) sugar
2 tablespoon(s) chopped crystallized ginger
1/4 teaspoon(s) ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon(s) ground allspice
1 cup(s) heavy or whipping cream
1 package(s) (4-serving size) instant vanilla pudding and pie filling
2 cup(s) milk
1 (16 ounce) frozen pound cake, cut into 3/4-inch cubes

Directions:
From oranges, grate 1 teaspoon peel and place in 4-quart saucepan. With knife, remove all remaining peel and white pith from oranges. Holding 1 orange at a time over same saucepan, to catch juice, cut sections from between membranes and add to saucepan, then squeeze juice from membranes into saucepan; discard membranes.
In same saucepan, if using fresh cranberries, add them to above mixture, with the water, sugar, ginger, cinnamon, and allspice. Heat to boiling over high heat, stirring often. Reduce heat to medium and cook 15 to 17 minutes or until cranberries pop and sauce thickens slightly, stirring occasionally. * IF using canned cranberries, don't add them to the above mixture until it has simmered about 10 minutes). Remove from heat; cool to room temperature.

Meanwhile, in bowl, with mixer on medium speed, beat cream until soft peaks form. In large bowl, with whisk, prepare pudding with milk as label directs. Immediately fold whipped cream into pudding until blended. *You can also substitute Cool Whip for fresh whipped cream, but this is one ingredient I prefer the REAL deal, its well the extra time it takes).

In 3-quart glass trifle bowl or other serving bowl, place one-third of cake. Spoon one-third cranberry mixture (about 1 cup) over cake, spreading to side of bowl. Top with one-third of pudding (about 1 1/4 cups). Repeat layering 2 more times. Garnish with anything pretty or festive, from fresh flowers, orange slices, cranberries, or red berries. Cover trifle and refrigerate at least 4 hours or up to 2 days.

Seize the moment. Remember all those women on the Titanic who waved off the dessert cart. ~Erma Bombeck

Christmas 2011

Hard to believe it's Christmas again! I keep saying it, but its true, I just don't know where the past year went! I have to say though, I'm eager to get into 2012, and I especially look forward to Christmas 2012 knowing it will be the last Christmas this family will have to spend it in a prison visitation room. At some point in 2013 my son will be released, that day cannot come soon enough.

We had expected to spend our Christmas day with Corey at Taft Camp, whiling the day away in the visitation room, chatting and laughing, enjoying being together on this special of all days, feasting on vending machine sandwiches or the ever present chicken wings or single serving pizza's, washing it all down with bottled sodas or water, yum, what could be a better holiday feast, right? Well such is not to be the case. Two days ago, and much to our bitter disappointment, Corey learned this year the prison administration is not going to allow the standard "free" (of points) visitation for Christmas day. Points WILL be charged the inmate to visit that day. HAD they let the inmates know this going into the month we would have budgeted the points so as to leave enough to visit Christmas day. But they did not. The staff actually got the word out, early in the month, that not only was Christmas Day going to be a "free" day, but the monday after it would be as well, as the holiday fell on sunday this year. We were all pretty excited. In light of this earlier, happy news, the new love interest in our sons life made sure to visit Corey several weekends this month, prior to having to fly home to spend Christmas with her family. But we had no worries, Christmas day was going to be 'free', right? Like always.

Not! As I said, there ARE now no remaining points, ergo no visit will be possible. And this was only the beginning of the disappointments, the facility seems bent on making this an especially "bahumbug" christmas for the men, either because this facility is cutting back due to the sluggish economy (though the private prison industry seems to be thriving and awash in profits more so now than ever!) or just "because they can" (being excempt from certain protocals of the BOP), who really knows. Perhaps the recent changes can be attributed to the new Warden this year, and the firing of the Camp Warden, a woman who exhibited thinking "outside the box" and seemed not only professional, but fair and humane to the men she was charged with supervising. Again, who knows, all conjecture on my part, all we know is that in past years the men (the prisoners) were encouraged to celebrate this season of "goodwill to all men", with fun contests and a few specialty food items not available at any other time. Each prisoner would receive a bottle of chocolate milk and eggnog, small in scope but so many looked forward to these "little luxury" items all year long believe it or not. And contests were held such as decorating their units, best theme and decorations would win a "goody bag" (assortment of cookies and candy bars for the winners). Coreys unit won last year, having extensively decorated their unit with a New York theme, complete with deli and 7/11 store (with an East Indian inmate working behind the counter, all good fun!). These small efforts and gestures to increase morale were welcome indeed, at an especially difficult time for anyone separated from loved ones, living confined and apart, over Christmas. And in case anyone is wondering, the prison does not pay for any of these prizes, they are paid for from an Inmate Fund, a fund that the inmates themselves contribute to for these types of things. How that money IS being spent this year is anyones guess.

It seems NONE of these things are forthcoming this Christmas season at Taft prison. Christmas dinner itself will be regular fare, no turkey this year (though "processed", sliced turkey was always served in the past, it was accompanied by stuffing and some other seasonal "side" and a small slice of pumpkin pie). The Christmas meal it seems will be chicken for lunch, and a brown bagged meal (sandwiches) for dinner.

I remind myself this is our last Christmas at this particular facility, thats what allows me to move past the sadness of this moment. Corey will be transferred in late spring to another prison, where he will enter the RDAP, the Residential Drug and Alcohol Program. Not that greener pastures await, what may be "better" at another prison will always be offset by something "worse" than at the previous prison. But change is always good, and the move and time of adjustment into the new prison seems to make the time go faster, which is always good.

I can't say I'll miss that vending machine meal we'd be having on Christmas day but I will sorely miss my sons company and the hugs (the one allowed at the beginning of the visit and the one at the end). Knowing he resides just a stones throw away, yet it may as well be a thousand miles, makes me sad but yet somehow does still bring comfort. And as we eagerly await the first day of 2012, the light at the end of this tunnel gets bigger and brighter than ever as we close on the distance. That is the saving grace this Christmas.

Whatever else be lost among the years,
Let us keep Christmas still a shining thing;
Whatever doubts assail us, or what fears,
Let us hold close one day, remembering
Its poignant meaning for the hearts of men.
Let us get back our childlike faith again.
~Grace Noll Crowell

The AUDACITY of THE NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT 2011

It is absolutely shocking, well to me at least, that a bill such as the NDAA, National Defense Authorization Act, could ever become law in America. You know, "land of liberty", "land of the free", however as of this writing I understand it awaits the Presidents signature to "officially" make it law. Having read, prior to it passing the House and Senate,that Obama would veto the bill if it passed with this provision, I now can't help but feel that was a ruse, so we'd let our guard down, relax, believing there was no way, not in American, a bill with such scope and sweeping powers, would allow for the arrest, without charge, and indefinite detention in a military prison, of american citizens within the US.

But it seems the President is poised to sign this very Bill, perhaps he already has, that just as this Bill was seemingly concocted in secret behind closed doors, over the busy holiday season when most americans were busy with holiday preparations, the signing followed suit.

This morning I learned with some margin of relief that Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif) has introduced a Bill to negate this stunning provision of the Bill. Her Bill is co-sponsored by the same Senators who voted in opposition to the NDAA but as that Bill passed with a huge majority, I don't expect the Due Process Guarantee Act, repealing the provision of which I speak, to ever really see the light of day.

I don't know about you, but I feel a cold, slimy, shiver of fear run down my spine when I contemplate the sweeping powers that the NDAA has just given our already overly pervasive goverment. As if the Patriot Act and the Military Commissions Act weren't crippling (to our civil rights) enough in their scope, this new bill, with all its perhaps well-meaning (I'm trying to be generous regarding the actual intentions of those who voted for this Bill) pretty much seals the deal. I find myself in disbelief, that in my lifetime, in a blink of an eye, we are witnessing the hacking away of the Constitution, and with it all civil rights guaranteed to we the people, that we are handing over this incredulous power to a Govt and Congress we all mostly, according to polls, have NO faith in. That is also the audacity of whats unfolding!

I expect there will come a time, not long down the road, as America moves into its rewritten future, citizens will reflect and reminisce about freedoms forever lost, such as those once guaranteed under Bills such as the 6th Amendment - you know the one that guaranteed "the right of the accused to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and District wherein the (alleged) crime shall have been committed.....to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of Counsel for his defense".

Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom, must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it. ~Thomas Paine

JUST SAY NO - TO BOTTLED WATER

I was recently reading an article on Care2's website about bottled water.
I have known about some of the reasons to not purchase bottled water and have mostly cut out purchasing and consuming bottle water myself. The reasons are ones we've all read and heard about in the past few years, toxins in the plastic containers, the fact most of the water is simply tap water that we are paying ridiculous, exhorbitant prices for, MUCH more than what comes out of your own tap although thats the source of most bottled water, the fact that hundreds of thousands of the empty plastic bottles are trashed every day and we now have a virtual plastic "stew" floating in our ocean that is twice the size of Texas...and growing daily!

But there is one other reason to stop buying bottled water that is equally if not more important - bottled water represents a novel form of privatization, in which private corporations have succeeded at making water a commodity. To quote the author of the piece i read from Care2, "water is more a “right” than it is a commodity. And private corporations should have no more control over the selling of water than they do the selling of our air supplies. Well, this is already occurring to some extent as corporations make a profit selling water — which at times even makes water less available to the people living in the area." The article goes on to state even public water supplies are being increasingly taken over by private corporations, and in some areas of the world are up for grabs by the highest bidder.

For more information comparing bottled water to tap water, and the scam this business is, just google away. You'll be amazed at all the info thats readily available. One really good article, and the source of my blog today is:

http://www.care2.com/greenliving/is-bottled-water-bad-for-your-health.html#ixzz1gWxa3RfA

"We never know the worth of water till the well is dry". ~Thomas Fuller, Gnomologia, 1732

COMING HOME

Once again it was time to set off for our twice yearly return to our cabin in Washington. How quickly time passes. Perhaps as we get older the passage of time really does speed up, not just "appear" to. It seems as if the treadmill of our lives has slowly, incrementally sped up, fraction by fraction, over the years, until its now at such a point its time to hold onto those handlebars! As though the hole in the proverbial hourglass has been, slowly but steadily, ground by the coarse sand, into an ever larger hole and that sand has begun to flow faster and faster. All I know is had I blinked I would have missed this past year.

I knew in advance, having checked weather conditions, that we would be entering snow country on this trip. We deliberately had held off on this trip until mid November so as to be able to spend the Thanksgiving holiday with Derek, Amy and our two grandchildren, on our return trip. After driving as far as Redding we stopped after dark for the night, eager to get a fresh and early start the next morning, which would put us at our cabin door by late afternoon. The air was crisp and cold, frost emminent, and we shivered as we pulled on heavy sweaters over our southern cal t-shirts.

Enthusiastically we encountered our first snows in the passes of southern Oregon. The air was crisp and clean, fluffy white powder heavy on the trees. I was like a foreign traveller from some tropical belt, snapping my camera constantly, filling it up to the brim with snow pictures! As if I might never encounter this wonderous delight ever again!

Leaving behind the winter wonderland that was Oregon's expansive forests, we descended into all of autumn's magnificent glory in the valley below. The golds, oranges and reds far surpassing anything we ever see in southern Cali. A familiar feeling of "coming home" again settled upon us, as we found ourselves snug in the embrace of these comforting, colorful arms. We passed through countless miles of family farms, idyllic pastures with grazing sheep and cattle, cows "as they should be" I like to say, far removed from the large corporate factory farms we see throughout California. (click on these pictures, and then click on them again, to get a better feel for the scenes)

As we neared our cabin in the woods, it was clear a recent and heavy snowstorm had passed through. There were no tracks at all along the south lake road to our property and our solid 4X4 Ford determinedly pushed its way forward through what seemed feet of snow. As we "found" and entered our private driveway, the path downward was lined with trees so heavy with snow they touched in the middle, as if joining hands. It was like slowly pushing through a white curtain, unveiling at last, the wide white expanse that contained our cabin, our lake, our home.


To Rod and I, there is nothing quite like this experience, the coming back to all things familiar. Our life these past years (7 now) have been an interesting and exciting adventure at times, as California is extraordinarily different from the northwest where we lived all our days prior. The move to follow our son, in order to stay in his life and support him during his Govt-imposed "exile" has also been at times lonely with more than our share of heartbreaks along the way. And always we have counted the days off some invisible calendar, to the time this chapter in all our lives reaches its inevitable conclusion, as it surely must, and we make a last and final trip "home".


Home is a shelter from storms - all sorts of storms. ~William J. Bennett