How Do You Do it?

I have an Orderly job. This means I'm a janitor of sorts; I keep the front porch to my Cell-block swept and pick up the trash in the yard in front of the building. It is my habit,
as in all things, to get up early and get my job done as the sun comes up; while the fellas go to chow, I go out and clean up, lol, I keep thinking I'm going to get fired because
my Boss-lady never sees me working, I'm always finished by the time her eight-o-clock shift starts. I have considered that I should wait until she comes in so that she can see me working ... nah. I trust that she notices the result, if not the action, plus, I love the morning time.

This morning I was outside sweeping when one of the guys came up to me and said he didn't want to offend me, but he had a personal question he wanted to ask. Did I mind? No, I replied. He started by telling me about himself and about how successful his kids are (meaning that he knew about the prosperity of my own kids) then went into his sentence, drug case, and how big he was in the game (meaning that he knew that I too had been successful albeit not in the drug business), none of this was in a negative way, he wanted me to know that even though he failed, biggly ;), his children went on to be successful in life. I respect the hell out of that. I listened, waiting for his question.
It came. "You have a life sentence" I nodded to the affirmative. He continued, "Is that natural life?" I smiled and said, yes. Then explained that some folks do have Life Sentences WITH the possibility of parole, but not me. I had refused to testify against others and I exercised my right as an American citizen to go to a trial of my peers ...
two things Prosecutors and Judges HATE. Therefor, I was punished to the fullest extent of the Law.

Him and I talked for about fifteen minutes and reflected on how wonderful it is, in spite of their fathers, that our children have done so well.

I don't get offended when guys ask me questions like that. in fact it happens often enough. Mostly I'm asked, "How do you do it?" meaning a Life Sentence. I always smile and tell them that it's easy. Then explain to them that when you love someone more than you love yourself, my family, then it is very easy to be in prison or, stranded on a deserted island or ... put to death. Because whatever happens to me really doesn't matter in my mind as long as they are happy and healthy. 

"How Do You Do It?" I smile and thank God for all I have. 

#Smiling at the devil. 

Peace be with you, mark
 

FCI Bastrop, Texas 5-13-26