My 40th Birthday

I know we’re beginning the month of February. But I have some great news about the month of January that has to be shared!

On the 5th of January I turned 40 years old (YEAAA!!!😁). For me, having good health, a sound mind, and all of my teeth are more than enough to celebrate at the age of 40 😁. But, along with those wonderful things, I was truly blessed to also be celebrated by others!

Most of my “Much Love, Soul” audience aren’t familiar with a jail cell – let alone prison life – so you may not be able to fully comprehend the significance and rarity of such an event in prison. Well, let me do my best to help bridge the knowledge gap for you. Being celebrated on my birthday in prison is probably comparable to working for a major corporation and having your colleagues and one of the General Managers get together to plan, prepare, setup and host an exclusive celebration in your honor. THAT’S BIG!! I’ve been incarcerated for a little more than 15 years and I’ve NEVER seen or heard of such an event in prison.

Why was I celebrated?

It contained a few layers, least of which (believe it or not) was my birthday. A bigger factor that was very important was that I would soon be leaving the place that I spent a little more than a decade of my life, so it would be my last birthday there. But last, and most important, was the impact that I was blessed to have made on that community of people.

Now let me tell you about the event! 😁 Days before the celebration about 60 tickets were issued to different guys that I’d either befriended or became closest to during my stay (see photo copy of ticket below).

Upon entering the visitation shed where the event was held, a couple of guys greeted everyone who entered and collected tickets to assure that those in attendance were supposed to be there.

The visitation room was arranged a little different from how it’s setup during normal visitation. Giant plants were setup in the front of the room with a lantern in the center. In front of the lanterns were rows of round tables for everyone to sit. A meal of Pastalaya (Jambalaya with noodles instead of rice), white beans, rolls, cookies, cake and brownies were spread out across a few tables. Off to the side were sodas and a crew of 5 or 6 ready to serve. Agendas were created, printed and handed out to let it be known that this was being handled on a professional level. 😁

The host and master of ceremony was Marlon Winfrey opened with letting us know – or reassuring us – why we were all at this event. He then turned the floor over to Warden Wesley for opening remarks. Warden Wesley, who prepared the Pastalaya himself and authorized a celebration of this magnitude in the first place, gave a short but impactful testimony on what he observed as my character, the influence I made on him and his family, and spoke of learning from me as he was sure others had as well.

Walter Aswell, a friend of mine for at least 7 years, followed up Warden Wesley’s presentation with a detailed layout of the person I’d been, the things I was involved in, the impact I made, and why he felt the need to give me flowers (metaphorically, of course) while I was still amongst the living. The lesson of giving flowers to the living was very personal, as Aswell figured it would be😁. He pointed out during his presentation, he’d learned that lesson from me (although I’d learned it decades ago from Min. Louis Farrakhan).

Next Brother Earl Johnson, who spearheaded this celebration, blessed the meal before we ate. Then about 25 of the 60 people in attendance came before everyone there, one at a time, to share their personal experiences with me and what I meant to them.

Everything about this event was PERFECT! However, what was most rewarding and humbling was the personal appreciations I received from friends and peers alike. I’ve never had an event in my honor. Who would think that I would come into prison and receive one of this magnitude?! 😁 On January 5, 2023 I felt respected, honored, humbled, and the weight of my responsibility to myself, my children, my family, my community, and the world.

I want to once again say THANK YOU for everyone who participated in this event and/or had a hand in making it possible. I also have to highlight Earl Johnson, Walter Aswell, Joe Vasquez, and Warden Wesley for creating this event and working hard to see that I had a wonderful birthday celebration and a beautiful sendoff. Because of each one of you, I will NEVER forget my 40th birthday! 😁

Much Love,

Soul

P.S. My 41st birthday party is already in the process of being planned. And I know that event will be memorable or “lit” as my Daughter or little Sister would say 😁. Nevertheless, I will always remember January 5, 2023. My last birthday in the CAN.