Bronchitis Gone; Sue Quits Choir;
It’s been a good week at FCI Dublin, I finally got over my bronchitis:) I tried a couple of home remedies and started walking a couple of miles a day to get oxygen into my lungs and finally feel so much better!
Yesterday Sue came home frustrated. When I asked her what was wrong she said in her thick Chinese accent,
“I had to quit the choir today because they wanted to sing a very dark song about someone dying for the Christmas concert.”
Sue
I asked her the name of the song and she said,
“It’s called Grandma got run over by a Reindeer and the Grandma dies on Christmas Eve.”
Sue
She couldn’t understand why I started laughing so hard. I don’t know which part was funnier, the fact that our nondenominational Christian choir is singing grandma got ran over by a reindeer for their Christmas concert or the fact that Sue was so offended by the lyrics to the song? Either way, I got a good laugh and before long she was laughing with me but still won’t participate.
Karaoke in Prison
Today the prison announced it would be holding a karaoke contest after dinner to raise awareness for cancer. I went to the workout barn early to get a good seat in hopes that I might be entertained and I wasn’t disappointed 🙂 There were over five hundred women packed into the barn and the Warden even joined us for the festivities.
I have noticed certain qualities that many inmates have in common. For one thing, they are brave, they love to dance, it seems that many of them are not constrained by pretense. They are competitive and not afraid to speak their mind. I guess I would use the word eccentric, maybe not so different than myself:)
The first song was Folsom Prison Blues by Johnny Cash and the crowd erupted with energy. Women were singing and clapping, I loved it! A woman named “Red” that has all her teeth capped with gold caps was the announcer and she really played up to the crowd. She announced that Suzan Sue would be singing My Heart can’t go on (The Titanic theme song).
Prison Talent is Endless
I was surprised and a little concerned that she might get made fun of. As Sue walked up to the stage I stood up and started cheering for her, soon the crowd joined me chanting her name. She had a great big smile on her face and everyone sang along like it was a Celine Dion concert.
Another friend decided on the Electric Slide, the crowd erupted and a group of friends jumped on stage to dance with the contestant 🙂 An inmate performed to the Cuban shuffle, the Spanish inmates really support their own! The crowd sang and danced together to the beat.
A black girl got up to perform and was struggling a bit so my friend Bubbles and Tuti joined in and before long everyone was dancing and singing. One of my favorites was the song “My Girl” by the Temptations, it was very well done! A large black woman that goes by the name “Puff” sang “She’s a Brick House” by the Commodores, the energy was electric. finally, a young girl I know from the kitchen got up and danced and sang “Ready to Rock”, it was awesome! I really enjoyed myself:)
AA Meeting “Dublin Resort”
“B” and I attended an AA meeting a couple of days ago. When it was “B”s turn to share she commented that although she misses her family terribly she was grateful for the hospitality of the Dublin resort 🙂 Everyone laughed.
She said we are part of an exclusive members-only club. Good thing we have all paid our due’s 🙂 I have loved having a friend that is so positive and fun, we laugh a lot. “B” now has a job in education in the mornings and will continue in psychology in the afternoon. Both jobs are sought after here, she is a very smart, talented and capable Woman.
“B” never swears and treats others with respect, I so enjoy her company 🙂 I’m hoping to send a picture home of the two of us soon so you can all see her. It is such a gift to have her as a friend here.
I am working on a post about a new friend of mine 🙂 I’m excited to share her story with you! Thanks for reading along, it’s been a good week!
