DannyBoyinExile

As I begin yet another lockdown, for the “annual shakedown”, I’m forced to ask myself: Since this is something we endure TWICE a year – every six months – shouldn’t it be called a biannual shakedown? Whatever you call it, after weeks of rumors, gossip, and speculation, it’s finally here.
In my humble opinion, ANYONE who gets caught with with anything they shouldn’t have is truly an idiot. Because this shakedown isn’t “secret”, by any means. I mean, every inmate fortune teller, psychic, prophet, and know-it-all has been predicting it for at least a month. Every single week, I’ve heard at least one person say, “We’re going on lockdown Monday, for sure!” Practically every inmate with a job has heard “directly from their boss” that we were about to go on lockdown. All incorrectly, by the way: When we DID finally go down, it wasn’t a Monday at all, but a Tuesday.
I’ve learned that life is what you make it, and your circumstances are what you make them. So I prefer to think of this as a brief vacation, where I have plenty of free time, to do all the things I normally don’t have time to do, when I’m busy all day. Now I can get some reading and writing done, type some emails – and play with my tablet. I’ve got music to listen to, games to play, movies to watch, and I fully intend to complete more classes on the edovo app. Lockdown is simply not as bad with a tablet.
There are inconveniences, of course. I can hear people right now, complaining about only being able to shower three times a week. That’s true, I just choose not to dwell on it – and some of the aforementioned complainers didn’t shower more than three times a week when we WEREN’T on lockdown!
I’ve even witnessed some lockdown magic, of sorts. When they racked everyone up, the kitchen workers were busily preparing chicken patties for lunch, and breakfast migas for dinner. Magically, that was transformed to corn dogs for lunch, and a burrito for dinner! WTF? I won’t complain, though, because I had plenty of commissary on hand for the lockdown that we all knew was coming.
It’s probably only a matter of days before they’re calling me out to keep the halls clean and help pass out the sack meals – but by then I’ll be READY to get out of my cell and move around.
If I can make the most of even negative events, and not allow them to make ME negative, I know I’m doing what I’m supposed to be doing. The lessons I learn here will be applicable anywhere – and I firmly believe that we can learn from ANY situation, if we’re willing to. So says DannyBoy.