William Earl Hill, “Christmas Wish List”
Christmas Wish List
Every year at this time I am reminded of the letters to Santa I used to write when I was a child. Those were the real good ol’ days… at least for me. All I had to do was be a kid, look adorable (harder than you might think) and ask for any and everything that would make me happy and improve my already ideal existence.
Listening to some of the talk in here makes me think that more than one of them have been sending letters to their own personal Santas. Don’t get me wrong, I would love to get some of the things in here that would make my life a little easier or a little more enjoyable, like a radio or a typewriter or the ability to go to commissary. Nothing wrong with having things or even wishing for them.
Hopefully, I have matured enough over the last 18 years of incarceration to realize the truly important things in life. I would love to see peace reign in here instead of the chaos and violence that usually resides inside these cellblocks. How wonderful it would be to live on a cellblock where friendship and cooperation exists instead of the enmity and selfishness that’s here now.
Yes, I know that people have been wishing for peace on earth and goodwill towards men since the angels announced the birth of Jesus all those long years ago. This year instead of wishing everybody else would change, I am going to make a commitment to try and live in peace with everybody and do at least one good deed for somebody each and every day.
Instead of wishing as I do every year not to be moved next to a “cell warrior” or psych patient” (Okay, I’m still wishing not to be moved next to either one), this year I’m going to try to be a better neighbor to those around me. To not be loud and boisterous when the rest of the section is trying to sleep or when it’s quiet. To basically be the type of person that I would want to have as a neighbor.
Instead of wishing that the guards would come to work in good moods or not to take it out on us when the aren’t, I am hoping to be a little more tolerant and not to just give the same attitude right back to them.
Okay, I’m not going to lie. I am still wishing for better trays. I have almost gotten used to the taste, or rather, lack of taste of the food in here. I know that there are children in the USA and around the world that go to bed hungry everyday and I hope and pray that world hunger would end, but I wish that hunger would end in here also.
I know that most people don’t know that most prisoners go to bed hungry almost every night if they aren’t lucky enough to be able to go to commissary, but it’s true. I hope this coming year that they will finally start putting enough food on the trays to keep us through the night.
If I was going to ask Santa for something entirely for myself I would wish for a penpal/ friend. I am so lonely and I really need someone to talk to sometimes. I know that this is prison and it is supposed to be punishment and not easy but doesn’t everyone deserve a friend?
Most of all, I wish for everyone at Prisoner Express to have a very merry Christmas with all their friends and loved ones, and a Happy New Years. Season’s Greetings Y’all!!!