So went week 3 of our COVID-19 lockdown. Current number of known inmate cases: 0. Somehow our desert island has remained an oasis in a sea of pandemic. Sure, there has been a sick staffer here and there, but so far (SO FAR) this hasn’t become the lit match. Every morning when the sun crests, a nurse is here taking everyone’s temperatures with a hand held laser thermometer. By now guys have fallen into this routine without complaint, and within 20 minutes everyone is back to doing whatever it was they were doing.

This week was a long week, but not as long as it could have been. The department of corrections has gone out of its way to keep us content by giving everyone a free weekly movie download and 4 free tablet based games. Baby sitters to be sure, but greatly appreciated by most. Guys seem content to play mindless finger games at this time, but I can’t help but wonder what happens when guys tire of these distractions?

How long will we remain on lockdown? Hard to say. If the authorities know, they aren’t saying. I think though that the answer was revealed to us on Wednesday when all of us suddenly received free bowls and hygiene/stationary packs. We are never given stuff like this. If anyone thought we’d be off lockdown anytime soon, that fanciful thought should’ve been quashed with the appearance of these ‘free’ gifts. Why? Because nothing is free in the Joint.

There’s always a price to pay.