Lock Up Your Laughs: My Time as a VCDC Inmate

Are you ready to hear about the craziest experience of my life? Well buckle up, folks, because I’m about to take you on a wild ride. My name is Jack and I was once an inmate at the Virginia Correctional Center for Women. Yeah, you read that right. And let me tell you, it was no walk in the park. But despite my time there being a trying experience, I managed to find humor in even the darkest moments. So grab a snack, sit back, and get ready to laugh your ** off as I regale you with tales from my time as a VCDC inmate.

A Run-In with the Law that I Never Expected

So how did I end up at VCDC, you ask? Well, it’s a long story, but I’ll give you the abridged version. One night, I was out at a local bar with some friends, having a few too many drinks. On my way home, I got pulled over by the cops for a busted taillight. It turned out that I was over the legal limit, and before I knew it, I was being carted off to jail.

My first thought was, “How the ** did I end up here?” But as I sat in my cell that first night, I made a choice that would change my entire experience at VCDC. I decided to find humor in the situation. And you know what? It made all the difference.

The Funny Side of Mundanity

One of the first things I noticed about VCDC was how incredibly boring it was. There were days that felt like they lasted forever. But you have to keep yourself busy somehow, right? So I started coming up with hilarious ways to make the most of my time. Some of my favorites? Here are a few:

• Toilet Paper Hijinks – With nothing but toilet paper and a pen, I managed to make a pretty convincing doll that looked like one of the guards. It provided me with hours of entertainment watching the other inmates freak out when they saw it.
• Scavenger Hunt – I made a list of random objects that I wanted to find around the prison, like a hairpin or a pack of gum. It turned into a full-blown competition among the inmates, and we had a blast gathering items from around the facility.
• Prison Olympics – I talked a few other inmates into trying out a few makeshift games and we had a great time competing. Who knew that toilet paper toss could be so exhilarating?

Making Connections in a Unique Environment

In a lot of ways, being in prison forces you to connect with people in ways that you might not otherwise. Everyone is in the same boat, and it’s hard not to find common ground with your fellow inmates. Sure, there were some tough characters in there, but I also met some of the kindest, funniest, most resilient people I’ve ever come across. Here are a few of their stories that still make me chuckle:

• The Hair Salon Incident – One of the inmates had been trained to do hair, and she was giving me a trim when we heard a commotion outside. We peeked out the window to see a group of male inmates peering in at us. The hairdresser nonchalantly lifted her scissors and shouted, “Hey boys, you want a trim too?” They all scattered like cockroaches.
• Spice Rack Adventures – Another inmate had access to the kitchen, and she managed to snag a few spices to make our meals more flavorful. We thought it was a harmless little joke until we realized she had swiped the cumin and was using it to make homemade cigarettes.
• The Karaoke Queen – We had a karaoke machine in the common area, and one of the inmates was an absolute gem on the microphone. She would get up and sing “I Will Always Love You” by Whitney Houston, and the entire place would go quiet. We were all blown away by her talent.

Finding Humor in the Bleakest of Situations

I won’t lie, there were some moments during my time at VCDC where I was scared, anxious, or depressed. But even in those dark times, I found that there was always something to laugh about. Here are a few examples:

• “Dinner Out” Night – Every so often, we would get to have a meal outside of our cells in the common area. It was supposed to be a treat, but the food was always terrible. One night, a group of us decided to combine our meals and make a giant, disgusting casserole. It was so bad that we couldn’t stop laughing long enough to eat it.
• The Missing Toothbrush – I dropped my toothbrush down the drain, and I was devastated. It seems like such a small thing, but when you’re in prison, anything that reminds you of your normal life is a big deal. My cellmate noticed how distraught I was and swapped me for her toothbrush, provided that I sing her a lullaby every night. A small price to pay for clean teeth, in my opinion.
• The Christmas Play – I was in the middle of staging a Christmas play with a few other inmates when one of the guards came in and yelled, “HEY! You girls aren’t singing! Stop that racket!” We all looked at each other, shrugged, and decided to turn the play into a humorous commentary on life in prison. It ended up being a huge hit with the other inmates, and we got a standing ovation.

Saying Goodbye to My Time at VCDC

As much as I enjoyed finding humor in the situation, being in prison was not easy. There were times when I felt like I would never make it out. But eventually, my sentence came to an end, and I was released back into the real world. Looking back, I can still see the humor in the situation, and I’m grateful for everything that I learned during my time at VCDC. Here are a few final takeaways:

• Finding Humor in Life – No matter how tough things get, there is always something to laugh about. It might take some effort to find it, but it’s worth it.
• Making Connections – Some of the best friendships I’ve ever had were forged during my time in prison. Never discount the people you meet in the most unexpected places.
• Taking Life One Day at a Time – In prison, there’s no point in thinking too far ahead. You have to focus on what’s in front of you. That mindset has helped me a lot in my life since my release.

Thanks for coming along with me on this journey. I hope that my stories brought some light into your day. And if you’re ever feeling down, just remember: there’s always a way to find humor in the darkest of situations.

References:
– https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/prison-laugh-ins-how-comedy-bringing-joy-inmates-prison-staff-n946801
– https://www.ted.com/talks/adam_foss_a_prosecutor_s_vision_for_a_better_justice_system?language=en
– https://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/ny-dolphins-comedian-visit-long-beach-prison-comedy-slam-rikers-20200804-vpydqbk6xvfl7d37f6jvbujtkm-story.html