It All Came Back

 Yes Sir, .. I have to say, I arrived at the City by the Pearl on Monday.

Parked the Black Beast.. proceed to walk into the Commissioner's Office and present my self to Stand and be Ready to Work.

From that point on... It flowed back like I had been there, done that, time and time again.... The acquired knowledge of 45+ years of government service flow through my brain and it All Came Back.. what to say, how to look, the stone cold face and no smile.....  

There was no transformation of appearance, I was in my element and as one person commented, You look to have been here before... I told him that, Yes Sir... just a different time place.... 

IT was a good feeling, the interaction between offender population. employees, the rigid atmosphere all Came Back...  I settled into a four day, 28 hour a week work week.. and came home back to the City by the Red yesterday...   

Friends......

 Ever since Covid... the tight circle of friends I have had ... has dwindled... .. Having one friend die of Covid, three others hospitalized .. brought our Circle to a standstill.. No Visiting... Then . .. the Communication began to dwindle... Every one was held up in his house, the isolation took hold and now for the present day  its seems that each of us are our own lil islands here in the City by the Red.  I am hoping that this spring brings a renewed and bounding excitement to my circle of friends.   I'm hoping for sure.

It's Thursday, I'm Thinking. Weighing My Options.... Rambling Thoughts As I approach the hour to Go!!

 I have spoken of the new job, as I have some time to think about it; I have made two trips there to explore living arrangements etc etc.  As I have toured the City, I don't have a good feeling. I got lost driving around and found myself not being in a good place.  

(It should be Noted....The Metro Police said I didn't need to be where I was)  At lest they understood that I was lost for sure.   I am going to give it another 30 days or so.   Driving from the Lll City by the Red, to the City by the Pearl gives me time to think, it also is not the most pleasant drive, at 159 miles to the East, there are two routes, You can take the Northern Route or the Go East Route.  Both arrive at the City by the Pearl.   Both have road hazards, Deer Deer Deer, and Small Town  Speed Traps, which Louisiana is known for now.  Also, lodging is a main concern for me.   overall.  The Poverty Rate is at 34 % with the residents in the City by the Pearl, couple with an unemployment rate of 25.7%; Which leads to crime, violence etc.  The lodging cost  will run  about $ 800 to $1100  a month.   I am Not leaving my condo here in the City by the Red to move to the City by the Pearl.   If the job was for only two days a week, I believe I could pull it off , but, it's for 3.5 days a week, which makes it costly.  Presently,  I am using AirBnBs at the moment, hotels in this Capital City for a decent one is $135 a night before taxes.

The City by the Pearl in recent years is not the City it once was.  Hinds County, which the City by the Pearl is not like what I am use to..   I have always lived in the downtown areas, which constitutes living in a racially mixed environment.  Here in the City by the Red that is not a real concern, However, it seems to Not be the case of Great Concern in the City by the Pearl.    If I had known the underling facts, I might have thought twice about this position. I feel the undertones of the overall population.   

However, I am willing to give it a chance to see if it grows on me, see if I can adjust the working hours,  see if there can be some modifications to the overall contract which I have signed to help ease the burden that this City by the Pearl confronts me. 

City by the Pearl

 Well here I sit...   I have had two or so weeks of part time travel to the City by the Pearl.. I am approaching my first real full week.. ....

I am exploring AirBnbs and found several that look promising. All are in the Garden District of the City by the Pearl...  

I had a conversation with the Commissioner that I am working for,  I felt some resistance to my presence the other day, as in Southern Culture there is a saying " That's Nice Have  a wonderful Day"; said with a smile, and the true meaning is "Fuck You, Carry Your Ass "  . I felt that I had many That's Nice comments.  

Having a person come from an adjoining state and trying to impart wisdom to a crowd of folks, that is steeped in backward culture,  is a bitter pill for that crowd to swallow.  

Have to see if the Magnolia Blossom in the Magnolia State is sweet, here in the City by the Pearl.

 

Jackson The Destination

 I arrived in Jackson on Monday, I had already completed the Active Shooter Awareness  Test, the Mississippi Board of Ethics Test, and the Sexual Harassment Quiz..  I believe the Powers at Be were impressed by my pre employment conduct and my preparedness.

The Commissioner ask me to help in the reorganization of some of the most crucial first steps.. The Initial Board, and Reclassification Board. These two programs are the first steps in any administration of any correctional unit.  The Correctional Unit that I have been ask to "help"with is a 3447 person unit that has Three Distinct Missions, Intake of Offenders from County LockUps, A Youthful Offender Program ( Juveniles incarcerated serving time for Adult Crimes) and Multiple Drug Programs 

This unit is staff as a Closed Custody, Medium Security Facility.  The offender population is quite large, adding to the complexity of the overall mission on the facility. 

So, here I am, 189 miles away from my home base, in another state, with a system that is wrecked with uncertainty, staff that is working double time, out of the 610 positions, only approximately 390 are fill presently..

It's A Challenge ... !!! ... I'm giving it a 90 day window to grasp if I can achieve any critical improvements in the entire unit. I do hope so... but (and there is always a but) It remains to be Seen.. 

Yep the Destination is Here.. This could be an uplifting experience or ..... could be my Swan Song..

And Friday is my 70th BirthDay.. My question to MySelf is Why in the Hell has this Commissioner chosen Me to initiate these Changes. .  or .... Am I some Silver Haired Old Fool.