3 Unsexy Lessons In 10 Years Of Serving My Country In Jail
I served a decade in the blue uniform. I began at 20 years old. Part of my role was in the women’s Anti-Riot Trooper within the prisons as an officer.
My life as a regular servicewoman short-lived when I hung up the uniform around a decade later.
Sometimes, I regret joining the blues when it didn’t bring me far except it benefited my family.
However, I had good memories which served as an experience and lesson for my growth. That would be in another story.
I dared to be one with the encouragement from my late Grandpapa who said, “My dear, serve in the police force. At least you can anticipate the direction of the law breaker. Otherwise, do whatever makes you a happy and warm person.”
I was a warden paid higher than the police.
Well, here I list 3 unsexy lessons for my readers to enjoy.
#01 — Fitness is the in-thing not just to be fit but to look good in what we wear.
“You got the bums of what men hunger for Lissa!”
That was, not in the present. I’m now over fed by my French extended family growing into a teddy bear.
Aside from the requirements for promotion, I must say that fitness is self-esteem!
I admitted that most of us were fitness freak. Not only did we keep running distance by distance to pass our annual fitness test. We wanted to look good. Our self-esteem in the uniform relied on our physical appearance.
I was slim, fit, hot, and a pretty officer. One of the women’s team members said to me, “You have the bums of what men hunger for, Lissa.”
Sex.
I could never deny that I met several men who toned their muscles with 6-packs at their abdomen. Hot. I was embarrassed to be surrounded by hot men. But there was no way to avoid them.
Being sexy, pretty, sweet, or fit made many men in the uniform interested in us. Yup, despite they were married, being a spare woman was a lookout for some men.
If sex was permitted, our fellow men in blue would rather be the ones enjoying time with us first.
Some other men who were more disciplined and held great values found women in uniform a burden. Despite the women tactically trained too, the men felt we needed to be protected because of our petite sizes. So, their responsibility doubled on their shoulders.
#02 — The team bonded like best of friends and find mistakes of one another behind each other’s back.
We could get along well with one another only to be taken by surprised that someone among us threw a knife into our back.
If pleasing the superiors by bootlicking and praising didn’t help in getting the next promotion, having someone caught making a slightest mistake was sufficient.
The person became the talk of the town within the unit or institution. Team members who felt the same sentiments gathered over ice blended drinks at Coffee Bean and Starbucks to gossip. The conversations circled around that one particular unfortunate officer.
Well, that was unfortunate when anyone worked by shifts, the friends they had would be the team they worked with. Colleagues became friends after duty ended.
Trust would be a big question thereafter.
And when a mistake while executing their duty cost them a warning letter, their next promotion could be delayed for a long time. It would feel like our own personal file had been buried beneath 7 levels of soil or kept under the rug.
They would be as good as forgotten.
#03 — Sugar baby and sugar daddy are uncommon.
Just as anywhere else people had affairs, scandal, kept-woman, concubine, or entertainer, it was no difference in the uniform.
I guessed it wasn’t the profession, vocation, or title, but a human nature. Everyone had the grind of lust. And for survival’s sake, it was nothing new to see a married man hung out with an unmarried woman.
Some gave excuses as cousins, while others went about it openly. Some reasoned it as best friends like school days and some truly, buddies in a way.
However, one wrong word from a colleague’s tongue led to many eyes that witnessed the sugary life. Another talk of the town happened.
Gossips spread like fire. I guessed it would be the same in any professions.
Some couples stayed in cohabitation quietly only to get married later.
As long as they weren’t caught red handed, which was very slim chance, life went on as normal.
There would be good and bad in every vocation. Every profession had its own bizarre or unthinkable environment.
As much as the job was stable in economy crisis and the salary plain-low (except to hope for bonuses) there would be more to life than selling our soul to the regimental routine.
A Saint and Saint once told me, “All the more you should leave that job. The purpose completed.”
I left after a decade of service. I testified there would be more to life than slogging hard behind bars till retirement. You’ll miss out a lot.
Xoxo
💦Lissa💦
