jury duty...

i've never been on jury duty.

when i was in my early 20's and had jobs that ALWAYS paid for it - i was never called. i always thought it something exciting to try out. in my early 30's - i took one of my last jobs outside of the home. they didn't pay for jury duty and right like clockwork - i received my first summons. i plead financial hardship (allowed in those years) and never served. i wanted to - but the $5 per day that the court offered, simply was not going to fill the void of my salary & pay the bills.

seems like many years passed by without receiving a summons - then, when my daughter was born, i began to receive them again! perfect timing. sigh... of course, i didn't go. it was simply impossible with a nursing baby. once, when minime was about 3, i received a summons that i responded to, but then the court claimed not to have received. i wasn't allowed an excuse - i had to go. i packed up my child (with books, and lunch) and headed to court. i was excused!

i've received one or two summons since then, i always managed to get out of them. but this year was different. actually, i decided not to try to get out of it - i'd do my civic duty and just get it done!

sigh...

it started today - arriving at 745 am (like I knew there was a 745 in the morning!). parking was 5 blocks away and then, there was the wait for the elevators with LOTS of other jurors. lots of waiting - for HOURS, and then, it happened. i was called...

into court we were moved, we found out about the generalities of the case and they started calling names. i was relieved not to hear my name while the others made their way into the jury box. questioning started and went on...


and on...

and on...

and then - lunch!

then back to the courtroom, for more questioning. and then it was made VERY clear to us that EVERYONE of the jurors sitting in the courtroom will be questioned as possible jurors! all 50 of us. sigh...

so i go back tomorrow (but mercilessly - not as early as today!) and sit some more. thanks to another juror in the waiting room, i'm planning on bringing my crochet work with me tomorrow - hoping the day goes by a bit faster. and hoping i *don't* end up on this case!

Words to Live By: Be careful what you wish for - you just might get it, even 20 years later!

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Oh, and for you 'American Idol' fans who were watching the show tonight... 'here i am baby, signed sealed delivered, i'm yours..'

you're welcome.