Say man….I saw you in the dayroom this morning and noticed that you didn’t feel like talking to anyone so I left you alone, but I wanted to send you these few stamps…this pen and some paper and envelopes because I’m sure you want to let your people know that you are okay. And just so that you know…you will more than likely receive some more stuff from some of the dudes around here….please don’t think than it comes with them wanting something back…all we ask of you is that when someone else new comes…you too help him out… we all understand how it is when you first get here… we all know that you are broke… tired… hungry… mad… scared… all that shit… I’m sure you will; talk to someone soon and hopefully they will hip you up on what’s what around here. I’m really not wanting to get into your business but I’d like to share a few things with you if you don’t mind… you can read this or throw it away, but its hard back here and I want to tell you a few things okay….
The best piece of advice I ever got was from a man named “Big 50”. He told me, “Don’t prepare yourself to die…. prepare yourself to live!!!” It’s really easy to get caught up in all the bullshit around here and most of it is negative. You spend you time here being mad or negative and you in for along, hard time here. Be yourself, respect others and demand respect from others too. There’s nothing wrong with just shooting the shit with others, but right now the only thing that should be on your mind is getting out of this place. Write to your lawyers, find out what’s going on with your case… if you have a court appointed lawyer…even more so do you need to get at him/her and find out what’s going on…what are they doing to save your life?
If you need or want something to do, just ask. Everybody here has books or something to keep you busy, newspapers, everything. Just ask homes. Come out for rec man… don’t just sit there in your cell…go outside…run around…just get up and move around… you will feel better than if you were to just sit there in your cell.
You’re going to see and here all sorts of shit around here…it’s up to you to weed out the things you don’t want to be into. I’ve been here 12 years and I can count on one hand the amount of “FRIENDS” I have here. You will come across some sorry ass officer…some not so bad… you will have to learn the rules around here and know what the officers can and cannot do to you or with you. Don’t sweat the small shit homes… pick your battles because if you want to argue about every little thing, you’ll never get anything done.
I’m sure you are asking yourself, “Why is this dude even telling me all this?” Well homes…today is your first day…tomorrow will be my last day here. My date is set for tomorrow and I wont have another chance to speak to you. There is so much more I’d like to share with you but I gotta go to my last visit. God bless you homes and please take my advice to heart…
…Big Lou
Louis “Big Lou” Perez #999328
© Copyright 2010 by Thomas Bartlett Whitaker. All rights reserved.
1 Comment
D Ruelas
September 20, 2010 at 12:03 amDear "Big Lou"
A small note from me to thank you for your words of wisdom for a future DR inmate (I truly wish there were no more and those of you that are still there could see the day when the death penalty would be abolished! As you very well put it: "don't prepare yourself to die…prepare yourself to live".). Your words have value because you know what you are talking about, since you have and are living it. Your message is very clear, simple and useful for a newcomer. It also opens the eyes of us that are on the outside to some of what you are living on the inside. I love the way you care and look out for one another. Something that started with one man and has continued on after that man is gone.
Keep your head high. God bless all of you!