Just Saturday

Today has been getting things done that I couldn't get to after my stint on jury duty. I got excused late yesterday afternoon. I am so thankful. So was everyone else who didn't get picked. Everyone almost danced to the parking lot. The people who did get picked were making plans next week to go out to lunch and do things together. They were making the best out of the task at hand.

I met lots of very nice people. People who cared very much about justice. The judge was very concerned about the law and doing the right thing. I might get cynical but it was good to be around so many positive, upbeat people.

At the first when we went into the court room, the judge asked for a show of hands for the people that it would be a hardship for to do jury duty until December 21st. I would have loved to have been able to come up with an excuse, but I thought saying, " I haven't done any Christmas shopping  yet." Sounded very weak and selfish. So just stayed silent.

 

One of the things I noticed one day walking into the courthouse was a plaque on the wall that said that the courthouse was built in 1957 and finished in 1959. I think people must have been lots smaller. The chairs you have to sit in are so close together and so small. If they call your name to walk to the jury box you have to climb over peoples laps. 

As I was leaving yesterday, a young man stopped at my car and started telling me that he had spent 3 nights sleeping in his car. He lives in a mountain community and he was afraid that he would miss jury duty so he just stayed down here and wore the same clothes for 3 days. I felt so sorry for him. He said he was so excited to get to go home. 

One thing I noticed I hadn't noticed before was how I phones, I pads, and  Kindles have made it so people are in their own worlds but don't interact much with strangers. I did my share of texting mind you. I also didn't visit with other people like I would have done in the past. I wanted to sit and watch people which I did. But I can only do that for so long and then I just have to talk to people. So I did meet some lovely, sweet and kind people. 

I always say I won't start December eating aspirin like M and Ms but I am off to a great start. I know if I had been picked as a juror by the time it was over I might have lost 10 pounds. All the walking and I was so sick at my stomach there was no way I could eat. I was up every morning no later than 4:00 A.M. to try and get my things done before I left. I would come home for lunch too and make sure every thing was okay. It always was too. 

I don't know if I am just a garden variety kind of nut or what. It wasn't that bad, it really wasn't. I had to look very hard at all of the good that is around me. I would get so off base by circumstances that I would panic. Sitting and waiting while they called names and never knowing when yours might or might not be called was the worst kind of torture for me. Watching them excuse people, then waiting to see who the next people who would be called and then in front of all of those people to have to share about your personal life to me is just a nightmare to me in my brain. Even though I tell you all of this junk all of the time. 

But it is over now for a year. I started Christmas shopping this morning. I did my grocery shopping and laundry. So getting up at 4:00 A.M. is a good thing. 

So I am back and God did part the Red Sea for me. I now have time to do all of the things I wanted to get done. Now I can watch the trees change color and go for walks and have time to watch the leaves fall. Not to mention sew again. 

Have a great day,

~Kim~