Every year we all look forward to a great holiday. The Memorial Day weekend is a time for picnics and barbeques. It is easy to get caught up in the celebration and forget about how the holiday started. The holiday is for the remembrance and honoring of our nations fallen soldiers.

The holiday was first started by General John A. Logan who was a civil war general. The holiday was then known as Decoration Day and has run continuously until now. I think every American should take a minute to reflect on those who have given their lives to defend our country.

Last Sunday, the world of rock lost one of its greatest voices. At age 67, Ronnie James Dio passed away from stomach cancer. Best known for taking over the front man spot from Ozzy Osborne as the lead singer for Black Sabbath, Ronnie rocked the world. He also went out on his own for awhile and produced the hit song “Holy Diver”.

His loss has affected us all and many around the world will miss him.

With so many people around that are already inclined to be just a little bit anti-social, it’s easy to imagine how many tricks are played between the inmates. It’s especially funny when a joke can be played on one of the many C.O. s that rule our daily lives. In my many years of incarceration, I have seen hundreds of jokes play out. It’s always a relief to have some fun whenever possible. It will always lighten the load for a little while!

One thing that every inmate looks forward too is recreation time. Being able to exercise is always a good way to forget your troubles and mix with the other inmates. Many take their rec time serious and lift weights or play such games as basketball or volleyball. At the receiving center, we got to go outside for about an hour a day. This is a very short amount of time for all we wanted to do.

I always liked to play volleyball. We had some really good players and some great games. Being able to go outside was a treat as we could get a little sun and fresh air. The time always seemed to pass way too quickly though and we were ordered back to our cells. I guess we will have to wait till tomorrow to play another game.

One thing that is very important to understand is that prison can be very uncomfortable. There is usually no air conditioning or other amenities that we all have come to enjoy. During the summer months, life can be almost unbearable when it comes to temperatures. It can be very hot and there is little relief.

I remember some of the tricks that inmates used to combat the heat. We used to put our mattresses on the floor just to be a degree or two cooler. Some would put cold water on their beds in order to make sleeping bearable. It can be very difficult to sleep when it is extremely hot. Fans can be an option for some, but even then, they are but a temporary relief.

Now that I am back out in the world, I take great pleasure in our AC. It is wonderful to crank it up and be chilly in the midst of summer. I enjoy the times when I need a blanket to sleep. It is a far cry from the nights when I had to sweat it out!