THIRTY FIVE YEARS LATER I RETURNED TO THIS FORTRESS ON THE HILL. THE DRAB SANDSTONE BLOCKS WERE NOW PAINTED WITH BRIGHT COLORS. GONE WERE THE THE MACHINE GUNS FROM THE FOUR TURRETS. I WENT INSIDE THE BUILDING HAD BEEN RENOVATED TO AN ART INSTITUTE AND PART MUSEUM AND A SECTION FOR CHILDREN. IT WAS UNRECOGNIZEABLE AT THE TIME THERE WAS A HISTORICAL PHOTO DISPLAY OF THE HOLOCAUST. I WALKED AROUND AND TRIED TO VISUALIZE WHERE THE CHECK IN DESK WAS LOCATED, WHERE THE IRON GATES WERE, THE HALLWAY WITH THE STONE BENCH AND THE BLACK SOOT COVERED KITCHEN. ALL GONE IN ITS PLACE A LIGHT AND LIVELY ATMOSPHERE.
THE DEPLORABLE CONDITIONS THAT EXISTED HERE WERE WELL KNOWN, I AM SURE,TO MOST CITIZENS. THANKS TO THE HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS THE PRISON IS NO MORE. I NEVER ASKED WHAT HAPPENED TO THOSE LOST INMATES.
THE EXPERIENCE THAT I HAD EVEN FOR ONLY ABOUT THREE DAYS MADE ME TO THINK OF THE PRISONS IN THE UNITED STATES AND THE INMATES IN THEM. AT LEAST THEY HAVE CLOTHES TO WEAR EVEN THO THEY ARE PRISON GARB. THREE NUTRITIONALEALS EVERY DAY A TOILET AND SINK AND BED IN EVERY CELL, TOILET PAPER, TELEVISION, WORK OUT ROOM, BASKET BALL OUTDOORS AND ABOVE ALL FREE MEDICAL AND DENTAL CARE THAT WE, THE ORDINARY WORKING CITIZEN, HAVE TO PAY FOR, THE INMATES IN THE PRISONS IN CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA WOULD BE DUMBFOUNDED AND FIND IT IMMPOSSIBLE TO BELIEVE. COMPARATIVELY SPEAKING ITS LIKE HAVING A ROOM IN THE HILTON. THE DEATHS AND VIOLENCE AND HOMO SEXUALITY IS ANOTHER MATTER. AT LEAST IT TAKES PLACE IN A NICER ATMOSPHERE..
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Hello Mi Amigo. I just found your interesting blog and will stay tuned. It is fun to write these things but difficult to stoke up the memory. I remember you telling these stories to us when you would return from CR and I have repeated them to friends and relatives. Keep up the good posting.
about the chikens: Our neighbors on Burnette Street in Detroit were Polish and often slaughtered chikens just as you did. Once, they chopped a head off and the chiken got away and ran around the yard spurting blood. I was impressed. Also, once at Cavanaugh Lake on vacation, Grandpa Luoma put the checen in a sack and knocked him cold with a hammer. That was not pleasant to see.
We miss you up here in Copper Harbor, Steve. You were always good for a political discussion (argument?). Be sure to mark your calendar for the Kilpela reunion next year.
See you...
Brother in Law, Don Kilpela Sr.
ps: what nis it? chicen, chiken, or chicken?
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