This week brought a big change to my ‘bid’ here in prison. I have had a few big changes while I have been here. As inmates we call our time here a ‘bid’ (always seem to have these commercial terms that pop up). I have a 7 year 3 month ‘Bid’…and I have been ‘down’ 9 months. Since I have been here in Springfield. The big changes have been moving from the 20 man dorm style room on a top bunk, to being invited to a 4 man room/cell to another top bunk. A 4 man room is way better than a 20 man dorm (even worse my bunk was in the middle of the room). Then another big change was when I started working in the Wood Shop as a Carpenter, which has been really fun. It makes the days long, because we actually work all day, but it makes the weeks go by really fast.
Well, I had another big change happen, I got a bottom bunk! I have been in the 4 man room for a while, and one of the original roommates in one of the two bottom bunks got transfered to a Prison Camp somewhere, so by seniority, I was able to move to the bottom bunk! Yay. Bottom bunks are way better than top bunks. I can sit on the bunk, I can get in and out of it with ease, especially if you need to use the bathroom in the middle of the night. It’s just so nice…When you are on the bottom bunk, it’s like the bunk is yours, the guy on the top bunk is just a guest. In prison it’s all the little things that matter, it’s the smallest of things that make time easier to do. Having a full commissary budget (which by the way, if anyone wants to help with commissary funds it’s much appreciated) to be able to have enough money for deoderant, toothpaste, and food to fill in for small portion sizes the prison gives makes you feel like you have some control. Having good roommates makes you feel safe when you close your eyes. Having a good job makes the time pass and give some purpose to your time. Getting mail, pictures and emails makes you feel not forgotten. In prison it’s the littelist things that can make the moment a little easier. Universally I have found inmates are much more appreciative of the little things. We don’t take things for granted, because IT CAN ALWAYS GET WORSE. Just being able to go outside for rec somedays will settle you out, after the outside has been closed randomly for a few days.
Recently we lost TV privilages in the housing unit for a week because of some trash that was found outside in the grass (mainly inmates feeding the squirells, skunks and possoms that frequent the grassy area outside the windows at night). After the week of no TVs, when they came back, everybody was SOOO grateful to just watch sportscenter again. On the outside, you take those things for granted, in here, everything beyond breathing is a privilege.
I have found there is a very clear distinction between rights and privileges in prison. You have very, very few rights, almost everything on the outside you consider a right, in here is a privilege (including my privilege to send this email at my own expense, which by the way, I pay $.05 a minute to write it).
Well, I am excited for my privilege of having a bottom bunk, I am very grateful for it.
Tonight, when you are in the bed of your choosing, likely waking up next to someone you love…Just remember, I am sleeping on a bunk bed, and across the room is a man who at one time had a lifetime sentence for attempted murder…
Love you all,
Taylor