The room is an ugly beige, I wish visiting rooms in jails could be painted in bright cheerful
colors. As you enter this jail visiting room,your greeted with three long rows of tables
with booths filled with two-way screens and telephones. The reception is lousy,even though
your loved one is two feet from you. You have maybe two feet on your left and your right
for privacy from folks trying to talk to their loved one.Two chairs is all you get regardless of
how many visitors you bring.
Today being Christmas,the room was full of Christmas presents.The young mother next to me had 3 children all under six years old. All of the kids opened their gifts in front of Daddy
so he could watchthem open the presents. The kids seemed just as excited about their presents as if they were in their front room.
The Mother displayed such strength to handle her kids,talk to her man, and
made herself seem cheerful.Similar scenes were happening around the room.
Today was tough for my Son. He talked about prior years when we went to Disneyland
or Hawaii for Christmas. He talked about all he could do is eat candy and write poems
to keep from Doing something bad. I asked if he wanted to stay there forever, he assured
me he didn"t. "Play nice," I said or "you will".
My son showed his Schizophrenia today. Sometimes I can have a nice conversation with him,not today. Frankly I"m glad he is off the streets. He is warm,has a bed,and someone
gives him his medication. This,I guess is the most I can hope for him.
Christmas in 2013 taught me about strength. All of us have battles to fight,and some of us have disappointments.I wish things would have turned out better for my Sons,they didn't , so you learn acceptance and watch the beautiful sunsets the Pacfic Northwest
has been having.
I hope your Christmas was everything you wanted it to be.