Out of Prison !

Last night, as before stated Mike , Cindy and I went to the local penitentiary to sing Christmas carols to the inmates and correctional officers.Our priest who visits , and says mass for Catholic inmates on a weekly basis, started this tradition three years ago. Cindy has felt called to go along since year one but the rules are obviously very strict for this type of thing and one rule is that no one under eighteen is permitted. This year Cindy was finally eligible and looking forward to going before the date was even set. Mike and I were not feeling as called ( as a matter of fact I have to admit feeling a bit of dread)but we decided that we should go. All in all my anxiety was not warranted at all as it all went smoothly from Mike following some friends who had been there before, to Father and the two prison Chaplin giving us detailed instructions.For the most part we were separated from the inmates not only by bars (I had never been in a prison before so i had no clue)but by glass that enclosed the cell block and their recreation area. They could hear our carols by the lunch tray openings and intercoms. There were a few things that surprised me, of this whole experience that I would like to share. Usually I am pretty good at Psychology and figuring out why people do what they do but one thing that i can't figure out is why the men on death row, seemed so much calmer and thankful of our visit than those men in other blocks. ( No they were not drugged) We did visit the behavior problem block and most everyone was in their cells, which were out of our sight. Actually there were men at what was referred to as " the camp" who were in the room with us( no cells or glass)who were very happy and appreciative too. These men requested every song on the list plus some and applauded our every attempt at singing ( they should all get good behavior points for this)Another group like this was the KP group who were thrilled that we came to the kitchen to visit them. Perhaps it was the break from KP that they liked most but still they showed much appreciation. All in all this was such a great experience for me personally. I truly felt appreciated, which is sometimes a sparse feeling for a Stay at home wife and Mom of three teens/preteen aged kids.
Thank you Father, guards, Correction officers, and everyone else who work to allow this. If these men got nothing out of it, I still did and for that i am thankful.