“Hollywood. It is the Nineteenth of June… we are free my boy… well I’m not free but you know what I mean… it is time to get this mothaf*cka on and crackin… Bingo time!!” This is how I started my day this past Wednesday… Juneteenth. I was sipping coffee in my room around 630am and one of the “homeboys” from down the hall (lovingly named Cell-Block) showed up at my door to deliver this message. I… of course… had no other choice but to oblige him by going out and trying my hand at Bingo (a first for me since I have been behind these gates). Unfortunately… neither Cellblock or myself won but it was the perfect jumping off point to an epic-ly surreal holiday at T.I.
I have said many times that the comradery, activities and overall experience of holidays at T.I. have always shocked me but this past week was one for the record books. As stated… the day started with early morning bingo. Hundred of guys out there on the yard… coffee mugs in hand because there was “specialty coffee” aka iced chocolate and caramel flavored brew being served up … bingo cards in the other hand… joyously but anxiously praying to hear “B-48” so they could win that coveted bag of goodies. As the game was in full swing… I looked around and noticed the yard being set up as if a carnival and music festival was about to go down at the same venue. A stage was being built on the basketball court… soccer goals were being brought out… cones were being set up on the track… softball bats and balls were being placed behind home plate of the softball field. It is was electric with activity. As Bingo came to a close… the yard cleared and everyone dispersed back to their units in order to go through the morning count and really start the day off with the holiday meal…
The holiday meal did not disappoint. It was a full blown fish fry in the chow hall. Huge pieces of fried fish with tartar sauce… black eyed peas… corn bread… sauteed spinach…. watermelon… apple turnovers and pumpkin pie was on the menu. If it were served outside in a backyard… you would be hard pressed not to think that you were at a Juneteenth picnic in the real world. The guys were extremely happy. But this was just the beginning. Once lunch cleared… everyone headed out to the yard and wow… just wow. I found myself sitting on a bench outside my unit… looking around at the spectacle in front of me and it was genuinely… absolutely surreal. The weight pile was rocking with a weight lifting competition (the winner bench pressed 465lbs by the way)… the softball field was jumping with a homerun derby… the track had teams running 4×100 relay races… the volleyball court had just started an afternoon tournament… one side of the basketball court had a 3 point contest going down… the other side was vibrating with the live band rockin out… and last but not least… full snowcone machine and popcorn machine churning out the afternoon delights. Where the hell am I??
To say that the day was a success for the guys in here… would be an understatement. For a place of darkness much of the time… days like this that blind you with light… no matter where you look… must be cherished and held onto to draw for when things are not so bright. I am extremely grateful for so much… and days like this past Wednesday… certainly are on my gratitude list.
Stay Healthy. Stay Active. Cellblock and I wish you many moments that are “on and crackin” out there beyond our gates.