Today started today at 0400 or 4 a.m. for you civilian types. Our 'serial call-away' was at 0505 which meant that we had to muster (meet) in the band room at 0500, head to breakfast, and be down at CASREC (our meeting point) for a 0600 departure. This mornings breakfast consisted of yummy scrambled eggs, without cheese! For those who know me well, you know that I never eat scrambled eggs without cheese...but for the last month I have been...because I have no choice. Maybe my tastebuds are changing because I also now like tomatoes...which up until 2 years ago...I gaged at the thought of eating them. Anyway back to the subject. So after we 'mustered' we boarded the lifeboat that lowered us down to the hospitality boat that we were taking ashore. The water was surprisingly calm which was awesome because we were able to keep the front window (where I sat this morning) open to receive a cool morning breeze. The breeze smelled a bit rancid...sort of a cross between over boiled eggs and a quick whiff of sewage, but hey...The breeze felt great. We arrived at the BLZ (boat landing zone) and loaded our bus to take us to the base to pick up our stuff and then continue on to our performance location....the Najayo Women's Prison.

After an hour of napping in the van, we arrived at the prison. We were greeted at the gate by many guards who escorted us to the back of the prison where we were greeted by many stocky and grouchy looking rotweilers! RUFF RUFF! They looked like they could bite your whole torso off with one swoop. While I never heard them bark or even get out of line with their master, I couldn't help wondering if one was going to run over to try to get me (Have I mentioned that I had a bad experience with a dog when I was little?). Needless to say I kept my distance. There was a cute yellow lab though...who looked so sweet. He was the drug sniffing pup. I wanted to pet him but...no thanks to that either....looks can be deceiving and I'd rather keep my hands. They serve me well.

After the vehicles were set, we proceeded to off load the truck and set-up. After set-up was complete and prior to the concert starting, the ladies started coming out to the tent covered seating area. One by one they filed in and took their seats. Many of them looked like your girl next door...complete with beautiful features and stylish additions to their clothing which like us, is the same as the next person's. As I looked at the women, I tried to pick out which of the ladies were the 13 American's that are imprisoned there. The concert started off well and we hooked them right away with the band sounding awesome on "Pick up the Pieces"! Woo Hoo....As I stumbled in emcee'ing portions of the show in my broken Spanish, I think we hooked them when I introduced the first spanish tune we were doing which was Cinco Minutos by Gloria Trevi. All of the ladies were clapping and singing along and it was awesome! By time we got to Bob Marley's Is This Love?, we had them in the palms of our hands. Nearly every song we played had most if not almost all of the ladies singing along. I didn't even need to sing the lyrics to Guantanamera because the voices of the women carried well over the sounds piped through the speakers...it was beautiful. Prior to us playing our last tune, our Captain came up and delivered the Continuing Promise message to the audience...Once she finished we closed the show with Shakira's La Tortura. And as I expected, everybody sang along. It was a complete success, and though I was apprehensive at first about doing a gig in a prison, I was happy we did it. We ate lunch in their dining hall and it was delicious! Rice and beans, stewed chicken and some cloe slaw. Yum-O!

After lunch and about a thousand photographs (we were rock stars for a little while), the ladies wanted to show their appreciation for us coming there by giving us a performance. So once the doors to the truck were locked, the ladies proceeded to perform a dramatic piece on how parents sometimes neglect to show their children love and how that can affect them in a negative way. Where parents fail to show love and support, their children often stray and find 'love' in a place that is unhealthy and toxic to their lives. It was quite dramatic and it made me wonder if many of those women experienced the same sort of rejection and their lives headed in the direction that they acted out...

After the dramatization, there was a fashion show with 'clothing' that was made all out of plastic bags! I wish you could have seen it! It was incredible! It looked like hook-lace material, but it was platic. Very cool. We were then treated to a reggaeton dance presentation. It was cool and fun and allowed the ladies to show their appreciation.

I had a great day today and I am so happy that we were able to allow the women to 'escape' from their reality and join us on a journey through music...

Tomorrow is another day and another performance. Our 'serial call away' is not until 0645 which means we don't leave until 0745! YESSS! To some of you, that may seem crazy early, but to a girl who woke up this morning at 0400 to leave at 0600...that sounds like extra sleep time! SWEET!

Thanks for stopping by....
Keisha