Jury Duty

I caught the 6:49 bus for 2 dollars and it took an hour. I had to face front and close my eyes to stave off motion sickness until we arrived in Providence.

When I got off the bus I walked right past the Federal Courthouse and went to the one I knew of on Benefit Street. They said, "You need to go to the Federal Courthouse in Kennedy Plaza," where the bus had just dropped me off. Not a huge deal, I was just embarrassed. I turned around and walked back. It was right there opposite City Hall. A gorgeous building with statues in front. Inside there was a winding marble staircase with little indentations from over a hundred years of foot treading, and breathtaking oak pillars in the courtroom. They showed us a video narrated by Supreme Court justices that was actually good and they gave us coffee and tea. The break room was soothing. After the video I read my book, Kafka by the Shore by Murakami.

Finally we were all brought up three flights of stairs to be interviewed as a group. Out of the 40 of us only 8 were selected. I was not selected, AMEN! We were dismissed at 10:50AM. I was able to come back on the 11:15 AM bus arriving home at noonish.

I walked the 3 blocks home and realized I was missing the cap to my thermos. I knew when it must've fallen out - when I spilled water on myself, drinking while the bus was moving, and I had grabbed the dishcloth in my bag to wipe my cleavage. The cap had been wrapped in the dishcloth. 

I leashed Romeo and RAN with him back to the bus stop hoping the bus might still be there since we were the last stop. I was right, the bus and driver were still there. I tied Romeo's leash to the lamp post. The passengers online outside the bus seemed to understand why I was there before I said a word. One woman said which seat were you in?  "The first seat," I said. The driver opened the doors, and sure enough the cap was on the seat next to where I had sat. I smiled and said, "Thank you!" On the way out I told the bus driver, "I've had this thing for over 30 years!!" I untied Romeo and walked home smiling.

Then, back home, I had to chill out. I had been so full of adrenaline from having to speak into the microphone when the lawyers interviewed us. I stretched out and read in the air-conditioned bedroom with Romeo beside me.

I made pancakes for dinner after wanting them for days. I used a King Arthur recipe: whole-wheat flour and buttermilk with baking soda, baking powder, salt, and a dash of sugar and my special addition - a mashed banana. Making pancakes is one of those cozy, symbolic things. I fantasize about getting a huge electric griddle for making 12 at a time (yes, I am crazy), but I will not spend the money.