In the event that you missed my initial post about my jury duty woes, you can read about them here. Part Deux is about my final day of jury duty. Things got worse before they got better, but they did get better so YAY!
Since I knew where I was going and what I was doing (somewhat...LOL), I arrived early determined to get one of the good, comfy seats. My tailbone was talkin' and it ain't have nothin' nice to say. So, I get there and the windowless basement is practically empty. The hard knock life ladies who keep the joint running were there (with smiles that were sincere yet somehow disconcerting all at the same time) and so were fifteen to twenty others.
*Yes! I will get a good seat today!*
Since the room was awkwardly divided into three sections and I had never seen the other aspects and features of el basement, I went to explore my options before choosing my seat. I was determined to sit in a new location in a more comfortable chair so I roamed to the "left wing" of the basement and discovered a gigantic flat screen TV with endless rows of chairs.
*Negator.com*
So I stroll over to the "right wing" which housed a ping pong table from 1957 and a foosball table from 1932. Couches lined half of the room while sturdy chairs lined the other. There was a "bistro" area with 3 or 4 tables and chairs, a table with a puzzle from 1853, an area that resembled a studio livingroom and a cool bat cave looking recessed area at the very back of the room.
Jury Duty Promised Land found!
This side was much larger and better decorated than "center section" where I'd sat the day before. Thinking I'd hit the jackpot, I strolled over to a couch and plopped down only to discover that this was quite possibly the most uncomfortable couch ever. My feet could not reach the ground and my back was tilted in the most awkward angle... some weird place between completely reclined and sitting straight up. I fidgeted and finagled trying to make myself comfortable but soon realized: this ain't gone work. So I hoisted myself out of the polyurethane loveseat, stepped directly into the "bistro" and had a seat. Much better. Sitting straight up, yes, but much better than gradually disappearing by sinking ass first into pleather.
If you can't tell by this post, let me just confess: I was having a pretty rotten attitude about jury duty. The intrusion on my life... the windowless basement... the crappy anti-climatic seat on the couch and I wasn't feeling the greatest to boot. I was crying a river on the inside.
Right about that time a cute lil' lady named Janet strolled over to the bistro section and sat down next to me. We *clicked* right away so we talked and laughed until lunch time. We got over an hour break for lunch and after being cooped up all night, it was wonderful to go outside. As we evacuated the basement, Janet struck up a conversation with three other girls (Donna, Dianna and Rhonda) and invited them to have lunch with us. We traipsed down the block, chatting and laughing along the way. I was booking it because I was huuuuuuuungry! The food was delish and the company was fab. We talked, laughed and even shed tears together. Connecting with others is such a beautiful thing.
So the weirdness of jury duty:
The guy who threw a hissy fit when he did not get his same seat from the day before.
Taking an oath that I am not "mentally retarded" (seriously.)
The fact that it takes legislation to remove/change the phrase "mentally retarded" in said oath.
Incessant sitting
The irony of systems in place to protect our rights and the exploitation of those systems
The rusted petty cash box (that was shaken exactly 5 times before EVERY name was drawn for EVERY jury pool. I can still hear the sound "chuga-chuga-chuga-chuga-chuga")
The beauty of jury duty:
Meeting new people
Breaking bread and making connections with new friends
Realizing that I had a connection with Dianna (I know her daughter, son-in-law + their kids and they are ALL awesome peeps!)
People watching (I think I overdosed for sure!)
Good eats downtown and...
That sweet moment we were released to go home
Jury Duty
The death of three young adults. Very young adults... like 18 years old. Felt and still feels so swift and untimely... My heart literally aches for their friends and family.
Paper trails and red tape of the insurance process. How someone can have insurance, need an emergency surgery and yet be waiting in the hospital for treatment is absolutely asinine.
Watching a couple walk through a hellish, real-life nightmare within the legal system. Tough, bizarre and surreal, especially when I think of the numerous chronic offenders who traipse in and out of the justice system.
Did I say jury duty, already?
Many times last week it felt like I was seeing life through a dark and cloudy glass. I kept rubbing the window pane trying to create a clear spot for viewing however my visibility remained somewhat obscured. I continued moving forward. Slowly. When it's foggy, you have to travel like that despite your hopes, aspirations and plans. Keep moving forward even at tortoise pace. Even when things are not turning out the way I wanted them to and especially when I have to do things that I don't want to do. I am reminded that Growing Up... Maturity is a continual process. Last week drained me. I felt mentally, physically and emotionally tired. Thus the foolywank. Not the issues and incidents that happened but my response? Foolywank. So after I throw a fit or two or three, I finally land on these facts:
During the times I cannot make clear, direct meaning or really grasp the greater purpose of all that is going on, I cry and cling Hope. I am Broken and Hopeful all at the same time. Broken because I am physically unable to alter or fix anything that is going on. Hopeful because I know who can. And in the event that He does not work things out to my specifications, I am Hopeful still because I know He is good and that ultimately (somehow, someway... EVEN THOUGH I CAN'T SEE THROUGH THE CLOUDY WINDOW PANE) things will work out for good. So I invite my brokenness in, have a real good cry and then cloak my brokenness in Hope. Hope that things won't always be Broken. I actually heard an amazing and uplifting message on this divine paradox just the other day. Click here if you'd like to hear/view a video of the message.
As I type this Foolywank Friday post, a few lessons start to emerge:
I cannot get mad at God for what others do with the gift of free will.
Being grateful (for what I do have/did have ...for how ever long I have/had it) is key.
Jury duty made me especially grateful for my daily gig, way of life and many blessings. (Soon-ish, I will write a post about my final day of jury duty because it was really sweet.)
Hold on to Hope. Hold on to Hope. Hold on to Hope. Never let go.
Trust Him and Surrender to His Process
So, in light of our weeks that look like pure, unadulterated foolywank, let's cling to Hope, shall we? The Hope that one day what is now cloudy will become crystal clear.
p.s. On a non-Foolywank Friday note, last night I got to see the screening of an AWESOME, INSPIRING, and FAMILY FRIENDLY movie, Courageous. My sweet friend, Vanessa hooked me up with tickets. Thanks again, Vanes! :D ... The movie made me think, laugh and cry. Yet I left uplifted. The movie is good. So good that I will pay to go see it again this weekend. Click here for more information about the movie Courageous
Love and Hugs!!!
Yep, that's where I'm at this week. Holding down the justice system. Not really haha.
So far, I have met:
-some of the cruelest, school of hard knocks female administrators on earth
-some of the coolest and nicest ladies and gentlemen on earth
-a girl who is just like me
-folks who are nothing like me but groovy all the same
So far, I have sat still for more hours than I care to count... more hours than I ever imagined possible...
I have observed hilarious, antiquated practices and machinery. I have been accused of being an undercover cop. And been reminded that hearing a person's story makes all the difference.
People watching. People watching. People watching. I'm so nosey that I could hardly read any of my books (and I LOVE to read) for people watching, people watching, people watching.
I ate the most delectable chicken burrito imaginable. It was healthy and delicioso. Imagine that!
I have laughed, cried and cursed the day I was born (not really, just going for dramatic effect here). More like I have cursed the day I received the notice in the mail.
I have made new friends, reconnected with a college friend, whined via text message to my good friend Holly and squealed with glee when I got to go home a little earlier than expected.
I get to do this again tomorrow. Yay. *itty bitty bit of sarcasm*
Surely it can only get better tomorrow... right???
Any of you ever been called for jury duty? Any tips, pointers or coping mechanisms? haha
*Click here to read: Jury Duty Part Deux*
