PONDERINGS FROM THE ETERNAL NOW. . . January 2004 #6

      Many of you have asked how the Holy/Holiday season was spent here in prison. . .
      On Thanksgiving Day a prisoner could have four immediate family members eat with them if tickets were purchased ahead of time at a cost of $1.75 per person with children under 5 free. Because so many came that day, dinner was started at 10:30 A.M. in the dining room for the prisoner and guests. The rest of us without family started eating at 12:30 P.M. I had to stand outside, in the cold, 45 minutes to get in. The food was generous, we ate better than many around the world. Meat was the big item with baked ham, roast turkey and turkey wings, served to each. The women worked very hard, and it was typical cafeteria food. . . instant mashed potatoes, canned vegetables, and store bought pumpkin
pie.  At 3 pm we went back for a bag meal of Wonder Bread balogna sandwich, cheese sandwich, bag of chips, apple and water.
      Commisssary started holiday shopping on Dec. first, with over thirty five food items...most unhealthy.
      Two projects involved children, The Holiday Video Project gave 100 women (out of 1,000) an opportunity to make a 10 minute video reading a book to a child, stepchild, grandchild, niece, nephew godchild - 12 years old or younger. The cost of tape and mailing was $3.85. The second was the Inmates' Children Christmas Party held at the Recreation Center on Dec. 13 from 1-3 P.M. The party included mothers and their minor children age 15 years and under. The activities included caroling, story telling, face painting, and coloring books. A few hundred participated.
      Christmas Caroling was the eve of Dec. 19 around the lower compound followed by hot chocolate and chocolate chip cookies. I came down with the flu the day before and didn't attend. As the 25 or so carolers were singing, other inmates were making off with the cookies and hot chocolate. In the end the carolers got drink but no food.
      The prison celebrated Christmas for us on Monday, Dec 22 at 2 P.M. We went to the cafeteria for a quart of eggnog, two store bought oatmeal cookies from the dollar store packages and a very few strawberries and pound cake.  Singing was provided by the Christmas Choir, not traditional carols, but "Praise Jesus" songs. We the returned to our housing units where we were given a plastic bag full of candy, cookies, and junk food.
      Christmas Eve and Day brought many religious services. I went to Mass Christmas A.M. vith about 20 other women. Father John didn't make it so Reverend Walker, the Chaplain here, an Episcopal woman priest, said Mass. She gave a beautiful homily on the Incarnation. Following Mass I went to dinner only having to wait in the cold line about 30 minutes. Cornish Hens was the treat for most and again typical cafeteria fare.  Bag lunches at 3 pm.

     New Year's Day brought me to Mass at 10:30 A.M. followed by dinner; 1/2 roast chicken, ham, typical cafeteria fare with bag lunches.
     What surprised me most was the Christian Christmas decorations allowed outside of the chapel. All cities, state and federal buildings have such strict guidelines but they are not abided by here. I guess the BOP turned its head.
      If my mail was any indication of Peace it has broken out around the world. I received over 400 letters in the 2 weeks before Christmas. The Monday after Christmas brought 100 letters. I am both overwhelmed and humbled.
     This is the hardest time of year for most women. Everyone is looking forward to the regular schedule once again.
   This time of year we hear alot about resolutions. Resolution comes from the Latin - to resolve, the act of solving. You know the typical ones like dieting, and trying to stop smoking for better health. A friend sent me these U.N. resolutions that bear repeating.
      On December 8, 2003 the United Nations General Assembly voted
1. Comprehsive Test Ban Treaty (The U.S. cast the only no vote. It was adopted 173 to 1 with 4 abstentions.)
2. Compliance with the 2000 Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty sponsored by Japan. (The U.S. and India were the only countries to vote no. It was adopted 164 to 2 with 14 abstentions.)
3. New agenda for a nuclear weapon free world sponsored by Brazil, Ireland, Mexico, New Zealand, Sweden and South Africa. (The U.S., India, France, Israel, Pakistan and the UK voted no. It was adopted by a vote of 128 to 6 with 41 abstentions.)
4. Vote on Paragraph One of the Resolution on follow-up to the 1996 opinion of the International Court of Justice. This resolution underlines the Court's unanimous conclusion that there is an obligation of nuclear disarmament. (The U.S., France, Israel, Russia voted no.
It was approved 165 to 4 with 3 abstentions.)
5. Resolution calling for prevention of an arms race in outer space. (The U.S., Israel, Micronesia and the Marshal Islands abstained. It was adopted 174 to 0.)

And so another year lies before us, new, untouched, full of things that have never been. Let's fill it with waging non-violent peace.

With love and gratitude, Carol