January 22, 2008

Dear Sis~
Last week the Dragon Lady (our warden) forced us to make the "big move" she'd been threatening for the last several months, moving all of us on death row from Building 4 to Building 3 - from clean, well-maintained cells to an ex-solitary confinement cellblock where the cells resemble a bombed out ghetto. I can't adequately convey how filthy and torn up these cells are (mine has endured numerous fires, and while hours of scrubbing got some of the grime off, the ceiling remains black from soot as do the upper walls where I can't reach) but this is what you gotta expect in prison. So I've scrubbed & scrubbed as best I could and settled into my new home. At least my little slit window faces south and I get some good rays from the afternoon sun...
I was just listening to some Johnny Cash on my little radio; I'm not a country music fan, but ever since I was a kid, I've been drawn to Johnny Cash's music (I don't consider him a country western musician anyway). His was a special voice, a special spirit who still speaks to something deep in our hearts. And, while I was saddened by his death I know he's in a good place & he was ready to go. Johnny was a very spiritual and metaphysically sophisticated guy, a very wise soul. The only other musician who speaks to me in that way is Willie Nelson, another old soul. Not surprisingly, Johnny & Willie were great pals and they recorded some first-rate songs together ...
It's past midnight and I'm gonna hit the hay!
Love, Bill