Day 29 - 7/21/21 - Wed.

Full day at Camp Devens, Wait, we have actual pillows here!?!

Actual Journal Entry: Day 29 - 7/21/21 - Wed.

“The first night went well; they have real pillows here. Crazy! One, anyway. That was a major problem in the SHU—the lame, plastic-covered thin mattress/pillow combo. Slept very well. Comparatively.

BREAKFAST: Standard cereal/cake combo. ‘E’ says no. I think he has oppositional disorder. Kidding. (But probably.)

LUNCH: Burgers. Apparently, I made a good move at lunch, but I'm not sure what it was. (According to CC, he said he’d tell me later.) All I did was sit at a different table. I guess that could be it. I’ll find out. Maybe.

Worked on catching up on Journal and other writing (Walking Distance, Null, Dark Justice/Outer Justice, and maybe something new). I want to go outdoors, but my leg is not feeling that great. Almost a month off it; I must pace myself. I’ve got time—might be all I’ve got, but I’ve got plenty of time.

SUPPER: Finally understand the short line/long line thing. We had pizza, salad, and beans.

Going to go out and scope things out later, try my leg out. Still weirded out by this whole SHU/Camp juxtaposition. I went from hardcore lock-up to fast-and-loose jail-lite in a matter of hours. Still no email. Spent most of the day inside reading S. King’s The Outsider. I read the first couple of pages before I realized I’d started the Kindle version right before I left the real world. Finally went outside and did one lap (one-fifth mile). Didn’t kill my leg too much. Will do more on Friday; going to give my leg a break. It really is awesome outside here, though: basketball, a hand/racquetball wall, horseshoes, bocce (sp?). Apparently, they used to play softball until COVID, and also had a trailer with a gym. Could barely stay awake till the 10 PM count. I fell asleep fast.”

Notes for Day 29 (Four Years Later)

I’m pretty sure on my first full day at the Camp, I was still exhausted from the transfer from the SHU, plus a little shell-shocked by the relaxed atmosphere. I remember CC giving me a tour of the place and all kinds of advice. But one of the first and most memorable things he said was, "Doug, you’re safe here; no one is going to hurt you here."

When I think back on the hostile/militant vibe of the SHU, I am sure that statement was incredibly impactful to me at the time, and obviously, it still resonates now. I don’t ever remember being afraid at any time during my incarceration (well, maybe a little in Brooklyn, but that place was a total sh*t show and a story for another time). But that one statement from CC upon my arrival truly changed my comfort level and helped me prepare for “Camp” life and the rest of my incarcerated time.