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