The wishing well

Your messages on my birthday burst onto my computer screen as I packed up for a class yesterday. Thank you!

And the surprise party where I was named Polymer Prison Princess for the day was so memorable that I have to share the scene.

The polymer wishing well filled with good wishes was a special gift from students at the Ohio Reformatory for Women.

The workroom was festooned with hand-colored toilet paper streamers that ended in rosettes. The table was strewn with confetti made from colored paper scraps interspersed with glints of silver from small pieces of saved pop tart wrappers. The wishing well was wrapped in a potato chip bag turned inside out to camouflage the label.

Students commissioned a couple of songs written and sung by a talented inmate. Cards were hand-lettered. The birthday cookie bar was cleverly made from commissary items (Meghan said I could share her special recipe).

I’ve never been to a more festive party. You couldn’t find more resilient, creative and generous women and I felt truly honored. They follow your work (via printouts of PCD posts), read all the donated books and magazines. You can be proud to have them as members of our community.