7:00 am: Each morning that I pull up to babysit for the boys, I swear I can hear Europe's epic ditty "The Final Countdown" playing. I've shifted into max "cherish every moment" mode. So, when I walked into the house and Jacob begged for me to "hold him" (which he really never does) and then decided to show me some new toys, I followed! Even as Nathan ran around the house saying "poop" and stinking worse then I ever knew something so cute could stink, I kissed his forehead and hosed him down! All Jonas has to do is smile, and I melt.
8:30 am: If I could, I'd insert a clip of my walk -nay- jog into the "Law Enforcement Building". Because I was one of the many people scheduled to appear in court this morning, I had to wiggle my way onto the side of a street to park, then run back to the building. I was most certainly not going to be late - I'm not that person. At least not today. Purse on x-ray, phone in basket, me through metal detector. Run upstairs. Read signs. Take sheet of paper. Walk into courtroom labeled "traffic".
"Mam, you can't wear flip flops in court" says the deputy.
I apologized and he assured me it wasn't a big deal. He took my citation paper and disappeared. I did as I was told and sat. And sat a whole lot more.
10:00 am: Still sitting.
10:30 am: A lovely lady, who looked just like Omarosa but luckily for me was not as crazy, called my name and sat down to talk to me. I could immediately tell how grateful she was that I was decent enough to introduce myself, shake her hand, and not yell at her within seconds of meeting her like some of the 5 other people I'd seen doing just that. I could tell that she sat and relaxed a little bit. Took a deep breath. Told me it had already been a long morning. I liked that she reacted to me that way. My heart went out to her. She spends day after day getting attitude from people because they brought their 2 year old to court and therefor wouldn't be allowed to go in. Or trying to get a statement from men who have obviously abused so many substances, they can barely be understood at all. I was more then happy to be a polite, coherent, trouble-free consultation. I got to "plead no-contest" and "waive my right to a lawyer". She seemed just a perplexed as me as we tried to figure out how it was that I was going to appear in front of a judge if I couldn't be let into to courtroom wearing my scandalous Reef Flip Flops. Apparently, neon multi-colored sneakers are OK. As are black pleather knee boots. And one boot and one fuzzy sock covered cast. But, my flip flop clad feet were a big no.
11:00 am: After a quick run to my car to change into my work sneakers, I find myself sitting in the back row of a rather full court room. I wish I could go through person by person- plenty of characters (one of which I may have known... awkward). But by far, one situation stood out. A young man was called up to speak with the judge. He was there because he was found in possession of marijuana - just under an ounce, I believe. By the time they got to him, my mind was already filled to the brim with gratitude to my family and God from protecting me from all of that. The judge very sternly warned this boy/man that he better be honest or he wouldn't be walking out of there today. It was immediately apparent to the judge that his mom had no idea how much marijuana he had been in possession of. Apparently, she only found out about the whole thing because she found his court order while doing his laundry. Judge...not...impressed. He asked the boy how long he had been in the mix, and when the last time he smoked was. I can only hope that it was his shame that cause his voice to be so soft that I wasn't able to hear what he answered. But it was about this time that mom lost it. I really felt my heart hurting for her - she was clearly aching for her son, and quite publicly no less. It was clear the judge was trying to be sensitive to the mom, while also using her pain and outpouring of emotion to make a point with his kid. He ended up "putting him to the side" and I'm assuming he went back to his case after everyone left. I'm all for it - let him sit there and think. Maybe this would help get him out of "the mix", as the judge called it.
11:30 am: Melissa Scanlon called up to the front. Plead no contest to charges of "following too closely". 1st in a lifetime. Judge said to me, exactly what he had said to many before "Plea of no contest is accepted. Pay the fine today and you'll be done with us and we'll be done with you". I smiled. I moved on.
11:37 am: I'm paying for my ticket.
11:40 am: I'm walking to my car.
All of that because I was "following too closely". I'm still having a hard time understanding why it's easier for them to make me go through all that, when every person there who was in there for the same reason I was, was handled in the same manner, with the same fee and the same script. Seems like a big waste of my and the legal system's time. I was amazed at how long I was there. My prayer is that if I ever HAVE to go to court again, I hope it's only after my name is Melissa Cameron. They call C names much sooner then S names. :)
"Mam, you can't wear flip flops in court" says the deputy.
I apologized and he assured me it wasn't a big deal. He took my citation paper and disappeared. I did as I was told and sat. And sat a whole lot more.
10:00 am: Still sitting.
10:30 am: A lovely lady, who looked just like Omarosa but luckily for me was not as crazy, called my name and sat down to talk to me. I could immediately tell how grateful she was that I was decent enough to introduce myself, shake her hand, and not yell at her within seconds of meeting her like some of the 5 other people I'd seen doing just that. I could tell that she sat and relaxed a little bit. Took a deep breath. Told me it had already been a long morning. I liked that she reacted to me that way. My heart went out to her. She spends day after day getting attitude from people because they brought their 2 year old to court and therefor wouldn't be allowed to go in. Or trying to get a statement from men who have obviously abused so many substances, they can barely be understood at all. I was more then happy to be a polite, coherent, trouble-free consultation. I got to "plead no-contest" and "waive my right to a lawyer". She seemed just a perplexed as me as we tried to figure out how it was that I was going to appear in front of a judge if I couldn't be let into to courtroom wearing my scandalous Reef Flip Flops. Apparently, neon multi-colored sneakers are OK. As are black pleather knee boots. And one boot and one fuzzy sock covered cast. But, my flip flop clad feet were a big no.
11:00 am: After a quick run to my car to change into my work sneakers, I find myself sitting in the back row of a rather full court room. I wish I could go through person by person- plenty of characters (one of which I may have known... awkward). But by far, one situation stood out. A young man was called up to speak with the judge. He was there because he was found in possession of marijuana - just under an ounce, I believe. By the time they got to him, my mind was already filled to the brim with gratitude to my family and God from protecting me from all of that. The judge very sternly warned this boy/man that he better be honest or he wouldn't be walking out of there today. It was immediately apparent to the judge that his mom had no idea how much marijuana he had been in possession of. Apparently, she only found out about the whole thing because she found his court order while doing his laundry. Judge...not...impressed. He asked the boy how long he had been in the mix, and when the last time he smoked was. I can only hope that it was his shame that cause his voice to be so soft that I wasn't able to hear what he answered. But it was about this time that mom lost it. I really felt my heart hurting for her - she was clearly aching for her son, and quite publicly no less. It was clear the judge was trying to be sensitive to the mom, while also using her pain and outpouring of emotion to make a point with his kid. He ended up "putting him to the side" and I'm assuming he went back to his case after everyone left. I'm all for it - let him sit there and think. Maybe this would help get him out of "the mix", as the judge called it.
11:30 am: Melissa Scanlon called up to the front. Plead no contest to charges of "following too closely". 1st in a lifetime. Judge said to me, exactly what he had said to many before "Plea of no contest is accepted. Pay the fine today and you'll be done with us and we'll be done with you". I smiled. I moved on.
11:37 am: I'm paying for my ticket.
11:40 am: I'm walking to my car.
All of that because I was "following too closely". I'm still having a hard time understanding why it's easier for them to make me go through all that, when every person there who was in there for the same reason I was, was handled in the same manner, with the same fee and the same script. Seems like a big waste of my and the legal system's time. I was amazed at how long I was there. My prayer is that if I ever HAVE to go to court again, I hope it's only after my name is Melissa Cameron. They call C names much sooner then S names. :)
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