Prisonlandia, Part 18: Fitness, Tattoos, and Visits

 

The Journey of Stephen McGee from Houston Police Officer to Texas Prison Inmate

Keeping Fit

 

Based on my experience, work-out time in the county is limited due to space and the fact that they rarely call recreation. If you can find a little corner in the pod to do some burpees and pushups without getting in someone’s way then go for it. Once you arrive in Prisonlandia though, things change, well at least for some. Depending on the unit you’re assigned to, you may get a lot of rec-time or hardly any. The smaller the unit, the better your odds, at least that’s what I was always told. I was only on 500-man units the entire time and each one of those units ran rec on a daily basis for the most part. My personal motto was “the gym is where you make it”, so regardless if they call rec or not, you should have a work-out plan and make the most of what you got. Exercise will benefit your body and mind and prevent you from becoming complacent, lazy and wanting to give up which will happen if you’re not careful. Remember that when locked up, the only thing that is really our own is our mind and body, so take pride in it. You will have plenty of time to work-out, in fact, never again in your life will you have as much time to workout and get fit than while in Prisonlandia. So, get shredded for that day when you finally leave so you can put it in the face of your ex and all your other haters.

 

To Ink or Not to Ink

 

When I first came into the system and was in transit to my unit assignment, I stopped for a layover at the Darrington Unit. I had a celly, an older black guy who was very cool. He shared his coffee and sweetener with me and for that I’m eternally grateful. One day I noticed that he had a portrait of a hideously ugly woman on his right arm, and after inquiring about it, he said that was his girlfriend. I thought to myself that this is one of the worst tattoos I’ve ever seen. I would be quite angry if I got a tattoo of a loved one and it came out that poorly. As we continued to talk, he pulled out some pictures of his girlfriend whom he had met through pen-pal correspondence. As I looked through the photos I began to realize that the tattoo was no longer a horrible rendering but a masterpiece that fully conveyed the ugliness of this very obese woman. He admitted that she wasn’t much of a looker, but hey, she puts money on his books.

You’ll have lots of opportunities to “go in” during your time in Prisonlandia. Really, back in the day, tattoos were a way to show that you had been to Prisonlandia, it was like confirmation. Nowadays, however, anyone and everyone has tattoos, so former Prisonlandia visitors tend to blend in a little better. I don’t believe any Prisonlandia trip is complete without getting at least one tattoo. It can be anything. One guy at my first unit had no tattoos upon coming in but insisted on getting at least one, and he did. On his right upper arm, he had “Prison Tattoo” – clever. Part of me thinks that if you come in and don’t get at least one, you’re a wimp. Especially if your reason is that your wife or girlfriend won’t let you.

If you can find a guy who likes to tattoo, takes pride in his work, cares about the details, and stays sober, I would suggest going for it. The work can be very good and a fraction of the cost of a “free-world” tattoo. When I arrived in Prisonlandia, I had one tattoo on each upper arm. When I left, I had two full sleeves and a chest piece – the coolest one being my police badge. Yep, I got my police badge tattoo while in Prisonlandia. I’m confident that I’m on a very short list of people who have done that.

 

Visits

 

One of the hardest things about Prisonlandia is the fact that you’re away from your loved ones. If you are lucky enough to receive a visit, then cherish every moment and understand that it’s a double-edged sword and while pleasant to spend time with your people, having to go separate ways afterward, is difficult. For me, visits were a stark reminder of where I was, what I had done, and how it had affected everyone. In my experience, sometimes loved ones can be hesitant to visit because they really don’t know what to say, especially when, like in my situation, they have always seen me in a completely different light. Expectations of what someone will say or do, when unfulfilled, can be very disappointing and that goes for everyone – inmates, families, and victims.

Even harder is when an inmate has nobody. I always had someone in my corner so I can’t speak to this completely, but if you meet someone who seems to be utterly alone and has no outside connections, offer them encouragement, understanding, and friendship if possible. If the person is you, then keep in mind that life isn’t about who we know and the physical things we possess, but about what we have to offer mentally and emotionally to our fellow man. We’re only poor when we allow ourselves to be. I had more money, more possessions before Prisonlandia but soon learned that aside from meeting basic needs, those things didn’t bring me happiness. I always admired the guy who was locked up and had absolutely nothing yet always maintained an encouraging and positive attitude. If you can be positive in Prisonlandia, you can do it anywhere.