After separating from my fiancée, I was in the streets
doing my thing so to speak. ..On the night of my arrest, I was
entangled with my addiction to cocaine. Arrested once for robbery,
stealing, and trying to maintain my habit at the expense of
others…Upon arriving at the Police station, booked and fingerprinted,
I was taken to a dorm…The next morning I awoke and
saw books on a table in the recreation area, I was drawn to the
Bible which was among the other books on the table.
The Detention center enrolled me in several programs…
Of all the programs, I truly enjoyed Overcomers in Christ, which
was preparing me for the journey in the valley, whereby I would
meet and get to know Christ whom I had never known before.
For 4 months the 3 facilitators guided us through the Bible from
Genesis to Revelations. Christ saved me October 16, 2004; I
surrendered my life to Him and His teachings. On April 21, 2005,
I was baptized while awaiting trial.
I accepted the 10 years no parole; 5 years parolable…
On this journey in the valley I will fear no evil because I know
God is with me. . After sentencing I was transferred to another
institution. Since my arrival at this institution, I participated in
several other programs; one program that comes to my mind is
AVP (Alternatives to Violence Program) which has helped to reinforce
my belief in Jesus and the things He taught.
So during difficult times, it’s not how can I get out of
this? But, what can I get out of this?. As I remember, my addiction
had created a hopeless, out-of-control feeling. .Christ has let
me know I can come back…The times have tried my soul, but
through it all I have grown stronger; so will you! I thank God that
my “rock bottom” experience became a turning point in my life,
and one of the most vital spiritual developments of my life. On
this journey, truly there have been many people who have
reached out desiring only to help me…Upon my return to the
community, the neighborhood, my family, my children and society,
it’s time for me to give.
In closing I now know and believe you can become a
Christian before you hit “rock bottom”. But if you’re at your “rock
bottom”, or anywhere in between, you’ll find that Christ is a firm
foundation.
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There is yet another subset among those returning from the
Yard, a Yard return strategy which everyone also uses without shame
when going to or from the chow hall. That’s when we are famous for a
walking style known to all as the Senior Shuffle! Now there are more
than enough men in prison in our sixties, seventies, and even some in
our eighties… (Rather) I am speaking of the “Senior Shuffle” which
comes from an innate inability to move along and speed up our return
to the cell, since being locked into the hot concrete sweatbox (cell) is
anathema during beautiful summer days. Nope, instead we … place the
heel of one foot about an inch in front of the toe of the other foot, every
step evidencing our reluctance to lock back in. This infinitely slows the
walking process, and easily quadruples the amount of time necessary to
return to our cells from the yard or chow hall. And voila, the more time
taken to return to the housing unit, the more time out of the torture
chamber, and the more time free of lock-in! .. The Senior Shuffle is a
well-known legal maneuver, well within prison rules, which require us to,
as the disembodied voice keeps admonishing, “KEEP MOVING GENTLEMEN”.
It’s when one stops walking that one hears the barked question,
“YOU ON THE WALK FOR HOUSING UNIT SIX- ARE YOUR FEET BROKE?”
So long as we keep pushing one foot in front of the other, no matter how
barely we do it, we don’t hear the screaming voice since we are technically
complying with all prison rules!
And that’s what the street hustlers should keep in mind—that
there are unfamiliar moves which they’ll have to learn once sentenced
to prison—a whole new hustle; the infamous “Penguin Waddle, Wedgie
Walk, and Senior Shuffle!
