I am not really computer literate. I have a hard time adding to or fixing my profile on here. I am just lost. It's frustrating to me. My longtime friend, Hooter, was my guru who took great care of me in the field of technology. Hooter has now passed on to the stars. Sometimes I feel that he is floating nearby, having a good chuckle at my banging on the keyboard of my Apple iMac.
Its like that this Sunday Morning. Hooter where Are You.
After arriving home, it seems that it takes me a whole day and a half to get rested and back on schedule.
I am just glad to be home, cause between April 13th, a Monday, and May 17th, a Monday, I will be in Mississippi 22 days. Won't be any time for too much rest.
The accreditation and reaccreditation process will be in total movement during this period. It will be an exciting time for Mississippi Corrections. The entire department will be pursuing the National Operational Standard for Corrections.
I am cherishing my time here in the Lil City by the Red, eating catfish on Fridays, smoking pork tenderloins on Saturday evenings.
I made it home yesterday, a five-hour drive from the Heart of the Mississippi Delta; mostly on two-lane roads. 302 miles for the day of traveling. Glad to be home.
It's crazy out there, whether you are here or out there in the world in general.
While I was working up in the Delta, things here and abroad are traveling at the speed of light, towards ultimate Crazy.
Our retired long-time Sheriff, who had the respect of all of this Parish's citizenry. was killed by a drug-crazed meth head. She came to his house while he was away and burglarized it. He got a notification on his phone, jumped in his truck with a friend, and went to see what was going on at his residence.
According to all the information, he approached her, and she sped up and ran over him, then. She backed her vehicle over him again. Thus killing a man who was respected by everyone here in the Parish, where the mighty Red Flows through.
Then, on the news, Egg Head, who wants a "deal" and does not understand foreign policy, is bringing us closer to what I consider The End.
I am thankful that my son is of the age that he can not be summoned up to fight again on the sands of the Middle East. He did his part as a US Marine years ago.
To be Home, to feel secure in my surroundings, is a damn good feeling.
Hmmm, Today I am headed over to the CPA to give him some more tax information. It's still up in the air if I have to pay some, but (and there is always a but) I hope it is a little better than last year; however, it is what it is.
I am gathering up my papers and files to head back up on Sunday to the broad alluvial plains of the Delta, to the Land of No Trees, where the humidity makes your clothes stick to you even in the morning air.
To the Land of 2680 Souls, for the reaccreditation process. I leave on Sunday and will be back in the Lil City by the Red on Wednesday evening. Until Then, Y'all Keep the screen door latched.
Brrr. Springtime flew away. The Crawfish ran back down in their holes....
Its Cold... Ain't No Short Pants wearing at this moment in Time!!!!
Here I am in the Early Years of my career. Leading an offender club, note the blue shirts and
I drove home from Mississippi yesterday, it gave me time to think. I had a very intense four days of inspections. Cover all of the 9 units, including Unit 17, which is Death Row. Walked among the 37 souls there. It was truly a humbling experience.
I've been on several Death Rows in my career. Most have a erry feeling, a certain smell. Corrections attitude of the officers, etc.
Not the case there at Unit 17. Certainly a humbling experience in my mindset, but (and there is always a but), to walk openly, to enter their recreation room, the meditation room, to visit their houses ( each cell is considered that man's house), to converse and shake their hands, was an experience I will never forget.
The environment is not confined; the cells are closed at sunset, the cells open up at sunrise, and the occupants are free to roam in the unit, to walk outside, and stroll the inside perimeter of grass and flower beds.
And while I was there at Parchman, I walked 11 miles inside of their compounds all of the 9 compounds.
I found Peace and an atmosphere of total respect for all who live there, including the officers who ensure they stay there.
I'm just glad to be back home tho, for the next ten days.
Yes its Sunday.
I am packing up to leave in the morning to cross the Big Muddy at Natchez, which, by the way, is separate into two sections, Under the Hill and on Top of the Hill.
Then it's on to Hazelhurst, through the National Forest known as the Homochitto. Don't mispronounce the name ....
On to and whizzing through Jackson, Ms, onto Yazoo Ms. and into the flat farmlands of the Delta.
I will be back home later in the week.
I read a blog today that described a True Act of Love and Affection in the most devoted way.
It says so much about this friend and his partner.
Friends who are true to themselves and true to others are the pinnacle of True Friends.
From the first time I met this friend, I knew he had the best intentions. Distance in the universe knows no limitations, miles, or consequences.
He remains A Friend.
My Lil' Sister is a very accomplished person. Retired as a Lt. Colonel from the Armed Forces, Retired Professional from a Major Defense Contractor, holds an MSW. She is the baby of us "three chaps," as my Momma called her children. Momma raised us all to be very independent. My Lil' Sister has always been around for me to bounce things off of. Her thought processes are much better and more grounded than mine.
Since Momma had two boys before she had my Lil' Sister, myself being the oldest of us 3. My Lil' Sister and I hold more similar thoughts; we both left The Farm right after college graduation, both have been widowed, and both seem to have lost a large number of friends over the last few years.
She moved back to The Farm, built a nice home there about ten years ago. We have talked in recent months of aging, of being with no partner, trying to establish friendships to replace folks that have passed, reconnecting with past interests- she is back playing her flute, piano, and working on various memberships locally. One of the topics is where I see myself in five years, the question is- Here in the Lil' City by the Red, or closer to her and the place we were raised on - The Farm. As a footnote, our Brother, who is the middle child, stayed home, married, and lives across the road from Lil' Sister.
Being a Recantouer, a Conversationalist, requires someone to listen to you and give back to you.
I am finding that I am all three: a raconteur, a conversationalist, and a listener. I enjoy all three modes of being myself.