the jury is out

Today was the day.

I had a date. At the courthouse.

But it wasn’t my idea. I got called to jury duty.

I’ve never been before…that’s one of the perks to having small children. You get off the hook. But now she’s not so little. So much for getting off the hook. : /

I was not thrilled about driving “down town” either. I have never driven down there. Hubs took me around down there a couple of times so I would know my way around the crazy maze of one way streets and hopefully find my way.

I had the choice of a free lot a few miles away, which included hitching a ride on the public bus system. Orrrr, I could pay and park in the parking garage right next door to the courthouse..space permitted. Guess which one I chose!

Best $15 evah! (PTL for a parking place!)

So I got there and walked in and was greeted by airport style bins and metal detectors. Great. The buckle on my shoes went off so I had to go back through and take them off and put them in the bin also.

And walk through security barefooted.

After that, the same helpful guy that told me I would need to remove my shoes, also pointed out that I could get some booties to wear.

You’re a little late with that tidbit, dude.

I found my courtroom and planted myself on the pew in the hallway…along with the rest of humanity. I won’t even go there. And commenced to waiting. And texting. I informed my peeps that I had found the bathroom and been in there twice since I arrived. My daughter texted me back that I get bonus points for that find.

So they were having a good laugh at my expense. Evidently I’m here to entertain and to serve.

At some point the hubs and the daughter ran out of snarky things to say. But it took a while.

And the bailiff (???)…he was wearing a uniform and a gun..but whatever…”the guy” came out and gathered all our jury duty slips and we were told to keep waiting. He also made an under his breath comment about ‘this’ possibly taking a week. Soon he came back out and told us that the case had been settled. I guess that was his idea of “humor” earlier. Well, it was totally lost on us. Not a bit funny. And with that, we were free to go. That is..after we went to the dismissing area. That room is one up from the benches..these were real chairs with padding and everything.

I chose to sign over my ‘pay’ to charity hoping there would be less paperwork and I could get out faster. But alas that wasn’t the case. Oh well, maybe they’ll name a wing after me with that $6 donation!

And with that, I was on my merry way across the street, and up the scary steps to my van to whisk myself back to the ‘burbs!