About 12 years before I started at ups,I was convicted of impaired driving,2nd offence.
I was young and invincible,or so I thought.It may have been the single most important thing that ever happened to me.
3 months in jail.I was sent to the infamous Don Jail in downtown Toronto.
My cellmate had a mohawk.and all he talked about how to make acid.I got physically threatened for being too cheerful.
At night,when the cells were all locked,I saw a string go by my cell,tied to it was a vial of hash oil that they had so everyone could get high.I did not take part in this. By luck,I found a childhood friend that knew me as a kid,and he made sure I was not abused,had my own cup,and enough tobacco to keep me happy.
I only had to spend about 2 weeks there and because I was employed,got transferred to Mimico correctional center,where I could go to work every day,but had to go back every night.There was one kid there I wanted to kill.He was always bragging about how he'd go home to an empty mansion every day and party until his curfew.He was in the bunk above me and I kicked his back at night till he'd shut up and let us sleep.
I don't EVER drink and drive now.
This has been a public service random fact brought to you by me.
Hell House: Why the Don Jail is a wretched, dangerous dungeon that should have been shut down ages ago | From the Print Edition | torontolife.com