Having off from work on this Friday afternoon, I decided that...
...in spite of the cold, I was going outdoors to the main recreation yard. I needed the fresh air and exercise. So outdoors I went, all bundled up. My outer clothing included my insulted coat, thermal socks and gloves, a scarf, a watch cap, and pants, that are all Army green in color. I must've looked like a big green bear as I lumbered along in the cold.
The yard period goes from one o'clock to 3:45 in the afternoon. And because I am not allowed to go back inside until the yard period is over, I have to be thoroughly dressed in my winter gear. If I were to forget something, like my gloves, I would be in trouble. There's no going back inside to retrieve anything.
But off to the yard I went, along with about a dozen other men from my cell block. While out of the other cell blocks came various numbers of prisoners, too. We all share the main recreation yard together. However, before each man reaches the yard he has to be searched, which includes going through a device which can detect any metal that a prisoner may have hidden in his clothing, or even inside his body.
It's like going through one of those machines one sees in an airport. For us, the metal detector is used to search for weapons such as knives, or razor blades, or any favor form of metal that can be made into a weapon. And when our yard time comes to an end, we must go through the detector once more before we can return to our respective housing areas. Such searches are a routine part of prison life.
For me, the time I spent outdoors was much needed. I met up with a few friends who live in different cell blocks than mine. We were able to catch up on the latest happenings. The fresh air felt good, and of course I spent time looking beyond the security fences to gaze upon my tree friends, Miss Goldie and Mister Orange. As expected, they stood amongst their fellow trees, leafless and barren, and cold.
D.B.
The yard period goes from one o'clock to 3:45 in the afternoon. And because I am not allowed to go back inside until the yard period is over, I have to be thoroughly dressed in my winter gear. If I were to forget something, like my gloves, I would be in trouble. There's no going back inside to retrieve anything.
But off to the yard I went, along with about a dozen other men from my cell block. While out of the other cell blocks came various numbers of prisoners, too. We all share the main recreation yard together. However, before each man reaches the yard he has to be searched, which includes going through a device which can detect any metal that a prisoner may have hidden in his clothing, or even inside his body.
It's like going through one of those machines one sees in an airport. For us, the metal detector is used to search for weapons such as knives, or razor blades, or any favor form of metal that can be made into a weapon. And when our yard time comes to an end, we must go through the detector once more before we can return to our respective housing areas. Such searches are a routine part of prison life.
For me, the time I spent outdoors was much needed. I met up with a few friends who live in different cell blocks than mine. We were able to catch up on the latest happenings. The fresh air felt good, and of course I spent time looking beyond the security fences to gaze upon my tree friends, Miss Goldie and Mister Orange. As expected, they stood amongst their fellow trees, leafless and barren, and cold.
D.B.
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