Alive and Well

In the afternoon session ADA Bartles presented her second fact – Deiter had been drinking underage.  She brought in an expert to explain how alcohol slowed a driver’s reaction time.  She argued that had he not been drinking he might have avoided the accident completely.

When I was in high school almost everyone I knew drank underage, at least a little.  A lot of us drove drunk on a regular basis.  If we weren’t drinking and driving we were riding with someone who was.  Looking back, I can’t believe how lucky we were to have survived.

“Good to be alive,” I said at the end of the day, walking in the sunshine to my car.

Today I’ll be grateful I’m alive.

Jury Duty © 2020 by Ken Montrose

Jury Duty is a work of fiction. Any similarity between the characters and anyone you might know is purely coincidental.

Other works by Ken Montrose are available at: www.greenbriartraining.com https://www.pinterest.com/kenmontrose/mt-rose/

Clutter

I said, “Shane you seem kinda young to be middle management. What are you, about 23?”

“I’m 27,” Shane said.  “I graduated college in two and a half years.  In five years I went from line worker to Director of Facilities.”

“How’d you manage that?” Co asked.

“I got rid of the clutter,” Shane said. He explained another of what I started calling ‘Shane’s Surprisingly Insightful Theories on Human Behavior’.

“Almost everyone lives with too much.  They clutter their lives with hours of Netflix, or take hobbies way too seriously, or they’re way too involved in their kids’ lives.  Don’t get me started on the emotional clutter.

“Addicted people are the hoarders of clutter,” Shane said looking at me.  “No offense, Ken, but the alcoholic’s life is cluttered with beer bottles, DUIs, lost opportunities, damaged relationships and all the other shit that goes with out of control drinking.”

“No offense taken,” I said, knowing there was still some clutter in my life.

Shane said, “You want to get ahead? You gotta let some of it go so you can focus.”

Today I’ll get rid of some of the clutter.

Jury Duty © 2020 by Ken Montrose

Jury Duty is a work of fiction. Any similarity between the characters and anyone you might know is purely coincidental.

Other works by Ken Montrose are available at: www.greenbriartraining.com https://www.pinterest.com/kenmontrose/mt-rose/

We Need More Ferrets

“Free ferrets?” Co asked. “Those little weasel things?” She shook her head. “Cute faces, but wouldn’t have them running around my house.”

I said, “I used to have one. They’re hilarious, but I bet people would rather get a bonus.”

“They raise them in one brother’s basement,” Shane explained.  “It’s one of the few things they do together.”

Co shook her head again. “Not in my house. They look sneaky, like they’re up to something bad.”

Shane laughed. “The brothers sell the ferrets and donate the money to animal shelters. It brings them together and does a little good.”

“Whatever works,” I said, grateful for the things that connect rather than divide good people. 

Today I’ll be grateful for whatever connects good people.

Jury Duty © 2020 by Ken Montrose

Jury Duty is a work of fiction. Any similarity between the characters and anyone you might know is purely coincidental.

Other works by Ken Montrose are available at: www.greenbriartraining.com https://www.pinterest.com/kenmontrose/mt-rose/

You Gotta Laugh

At lunch, Shane told us he was a trouble shooter for a company run by three well-meaning but insane brothers.

“Picture three full Port-O-Johns sitting on top of a cliff.  Down below workers scurry around doing their jobs.  I keep the Port-O-Johns from falling over, spilling their batshit crazy ideas and plans on the people below.”

“So jury duty is a break from that?” I suggested.

 Shane said, “Yes, but in a week or so the Port-O-Johns will start tumbling. Military style uniforms for all employees. Anti-smoking patrols armed with water pistols.  Insurance premiums based on weight with mandatory public weigh-ins.  Free ferret Friday.  These are just some of the crazy ideas I had to talk them out of.”

Shane shrugged, smiled, and laughed. I thought it the perfect response to the insanity of his world.

Today I will shrug, smile, and laugh at the world’s insanity.

Jury Duty © 2020 by Ken Montrose

Jury Duty is a work of fiction. Any similarity between the characters and anyone you might know is purely coincidental.

Other works by Ken Montrose are available at: www.greenbriartraining.com https://www.pinterest.com/kenmontrose/mt-rose/

Moving On

“Overruled,” the judge said.  Deiter’s attorney had been forceful in his arguments. I expected him to continue, but he sat back down without a word.

In his shoes, I might have kept arguing. I didn’t like to argue, but once I’d invested so much energy I wouldn’t want to quit.  Jones put a reassuring hand on Deiter’s shoulder, as if to say, “It’s just one battle, let’s move on.”

Today I will move on without giving up.

Jury Duty © 2020 by Ken Montrose

Jury Duty is a work of fiction. Any similarity between the characters and anyone you might know is purely coincidental.

Other works by Ken Montrose are available at: www.greenbriartraining.com https://www.pinterest.com/kenmontrose/mt-rose/

One Too  Many

In the morning session, ADA Bartles tried to move on to her second point.

“Fact two,” she said, staring at the defendant. “Mr. Deiter was drinking underage the night of the crash.”

Deiter’s attorney, a short, pale, balding man named Trevor Jones rose to his feet to object.  He argued that Deiter’s age at the time of the crash was irrelevant. 

They attorneys argued for several minutes.  I looked at Deiter, wondering if he wished he’d taken a plea deal like Martin.  My eyes scanned the spectators.   Anger, sadness, frustration, and despair hung over the courtroom.

In Deiter’s shoes, I might have told myself I’d only had one drink too many, wishing I had known how much damage one too many can do. For me one was one too many.

Today I won’t underestimate the damage one too many can do.

Jury Duty © 2020 by Ken Montrose

Jury Duty is a work of fiction. Any similarity between the characters and anyone you might know is purely coincidental.

Other works by Ken Montrose are available at: www.greenbriartraining.com https://www.pinterest.com/kenmontrose/mt-rose/

Donuts

The trial resumed the next day.  Co brought donuts from her husband’s coffee shop. These weren’t the mass-produced kind from Dunkin’. These donuts were larger, crispier, and tastier. These donuts had personalities. I know this because they spoke to me.  

Maybe the donuts didn’t have souls, but they touched mine. Shane and Co must have seen it on my face.

“You two want to be alone?” Shane asked, pointing to the donut in my hand.

Co laughed, “You know you’re gonna have to leave the donuts here when we go into the courtroom.”

“I’m going to eat this donut slowly, sipping my coffee, and enjoying the moment,” I said. “If I’m not done when court starts, the judge will just have to wait.”

Of course I would enter the jury box with everyone else. I wasn’t going to risk being held in contempt over a donut.  On the other hand, the trial was going to be draining.  I wanted to carve out a moment just to savor.

Today I’ll carve out a moment to savor.

Jury Duty © 2020 by Ken Montrose

Jury Duty is a work of fiction. Any similarity between the characters and anyone you might know is purely coincidental.

Other works by Ken Montrose are available at: www.greenbriartraining.com https://www.pinterest.com/kenmontrose/mt-rose/

Judge

“The hardest part of taking that inventory is judging yourself fairly,” I said to Dr. Deb.  “I knew two people who couldn’t. Betcha had a hard time forgiving herself for getting addicted to booze and pills after a botched surgery.”

“Her name was ‘Betcha’?” Dr. Deb asked.

“Nickname. Every time she’d beat herself up over some silly thing she’d done wrong her sponsor would say ‘Betcha didn’t drink over it.’ She struggled to see she was a good person trying to do better.”

“Who was the other one?”

“Mitch thought as long as he stayed sober, everything he did was ok. Perfect example of a jackass who got sober, refused to take a serious inventory of himself, and became a sober jackass.”

Dr. Deb said, “I think you could judge yourself a good person if you emptied the dishwasher.”

Today I’ll try to judge myself fairly.

Jury Duty © 2020 by Ken Montrose

Jury Duty is a work of fiction. Any similarity between the characters and anyone you might know is purely coincidental.

Other works by Ken Montrose are available at: www.greenbriartraining.com https://www.pinterest.com/kenmontrose/mt-rose/

Daily Inventory

“You still take a daily inventory, don’t you?” Dr. Deb asked.

“I do,” I said. “Most of the time it’s pretty routine.  I review the day, asking myself what I got for my time. I make a list of things I need to work on, and things I’m grateful for.

 “Most days it’s just something I do. Other times I really think. Am I any closer to a drink today than I was yesterday?  I’m almost 60, what do I want to do with the rest of my life?  Am I setting a good example for my children? If I never said another word, would you still know I loved you?”

Dr. Deb hugged me. “I’d know.”

“Then I’d count that day as a success.”

Today I’ll take an inventory.

Jury Duty © 2020 by Ken Montrose

Jury Duty is a work of fiction. Any similarity between the characters and anyone you might know is purely coincidental.

Other works by Ken Montrose are available at: www.greenbriartraining.com https://www.pinterest.com/kenmontrose/mt-rose/

Exit Signs

How was it?” My wife, Dr. Deb asked when I got home.

“Not bad,” I said. “Had lunch with two people from the jury.”

“I meant the trial.”

“Sad.”

“How so?” she asked.

 “One attorney said once events were set in motion the whole thing was fate.  He wanted you to picture a road with just one exit.” I shook my head.  “There were many times they could have gotten off that highway.” 

“So why didn’t they?” Dr. Deb asked.

“One guy made a habit of traveling that road. The other was young and didn’t recognize the danger. Both were going too fast to notice the warning signs.”

I added, “That’s why AA tells you to take a daily inventory. It helps you see if you need to slow down and get off the road you’re on.”

Today I will slow down and consider a different route.

Jury Duty © 2020 by Ken Montrose

Jury Duty is a work of fiction. Any similarity between the characters and anyone you might know is purely coincidental.

Other works by Ken Montrose are available at: www.greenbriartraining.com https://www.pinterest.com/kenmontrose/mt-rose/

Veterans, Japanese Schools, Triathlons, & Colonoscopies

I stopped at the gym on my way home from the trial. After a short workout, I sat in the sauna collecting my thoughts.

I loved the sauna, especially the interesting discussions I sometimes heard there. Two veterans talking about where they’d served.  A Japanese engineer describing the difference between American and Japanese schools.  A woman describing her preparation for triathlons.

That day a hairy guy of about sixty sat next to me. “Can’t believe I can still sit after that colonoscopy,” he said. I tried to show no sign I was listening.

“You ever had a colonoscopy?” he asked. Instead of waiting for my answer, he described his procedure in detail.

‘Why me?’ I thought. I answered my own question, ‘Because you have to take the good with the bad, the interesting discussions with the epic tales of bowel cleansing.’

Today I will take the good with the bad.

Jury Duty © 2020 by Ken Montrose

Jury Duty is a work of fiction. Any similarity between the characters and anyone you might know is purely coincidental.

Other works by Ken Montrose are available at: www.greenbriartraining.com https://www.pinterest.com/kenmontrose/mt-rose/

Big Picture

The ADA brought in an expert witness to explain how blood alcohol was measured. In my experience you blew into a tube and a number appeared on a screen. If the number was high enough there were consequences. 

The expert described in detail the alcohol sensor, brain chemistry, and how the liver processes alcohol.  Deiter’s attorney fought him every step of the way.  I understood he was only doing his job, but he reminded me of people I’d known so bogged down in some detail they couldn’t see the big picture.

People court-ordered to treatment arguing they shouldn’t have to go because the arresting officer didn’t dot an ‘i’ or cross a ‘t’ couldn’t see they truly had a problem.  People ending relationships or quitting jobs because of some minor irritant  couldn’t see they had a good thing going.

I knew at times I had failed to see the big picture while I focused on some detail. At that moment I was irritated with the slow pace of the trial, thinking the whole day sucked.  It took me awhile to see the big picture.  I had woken up that morning to more blessings than I could count.

Today I’ll try to see the big picture.

Jury Duty © 2020 by Ken Montrose

Jury Duty is a work of fiction. Any similarity between the characters and anyone you might know is purely coincidental.

Other works by Ken Montrose are available at: www.greenbriartraining.com https://www.pinterest.com/kenmontrose/mt-rose/

Just The Facts

The woman I had thought was the DA was actually an ADA, Assistant District Attorney Meghan Bartles. She seemed young to be trying this case, but I’d reached an age where most people didn’t seem old enough to hold the jobs they held.

As promised in her opening remarks, she began laying out the facts. Fact one: the defendant, Peter Dieter, was over the legal limit when the accident occurred. “Whatever you think of the law, the fact remain, the legal limit is .08.”

‘They named him Peter Dieter,’ I thought. ‘No wonder the kid drinks.’

Like many people, I tended to ignore facts I didn’t like. Early on, I had known I had a problem with alcohol, but shrugged off that fact until I was in deep trouble.  I’d seen people do the same with diagnoses they didn’t like, bills they didn’t want to pay, and relationships that in fact were over.

Shrugging off the facts never turned out well.

Today I won’t shrug off the facts.

Jury Duty © 2020 by Ken Montrose

Jury Duty is a work of fiction. Any similarity between the characters and anyone you might know is purely coincidental.

Other works by Ken Montrose are available at: www.greenbriartraining.com https://www.pinterest.com/kenmontrose/mt-rose/

Change

“Just out of curiosity” I said to Co, “where did the name ‘Roose’ come from?”

Co said, “My husband’s parents were Rupert and Monique. They named him RuMon. He used to get into a lot of trouble. His grandmother said he was a little devil and started calling Rucifer.’”

“The name stuck, but as he grew older people shortened it to Roose,” I guessed.

Co smiled and said, “The stories they tell about him…” She put patted her heart with her fist, looking like she might choke up. “But now he’s the sweetest man you’ll ever meet.  People change. You must see that where you work.”

“People make the most amazing changes,” I agreed. “You hold them responsible, take care of yourself, but you don’t give up on them.”

Today I’ll remember people change.

Jury Duty © 2020 by Ken Montrose

Jury Duty is a work of fiction. Any similarity between the characters and anyone you might know is purely coincidental.

Other works by Ken Montrose are available at: www.greenbriartraining.com https://www.pinterest.com/kenmontrose/mt-rose/

Better Late than Never

Shane laughed and slid a dollar across the table to Co.

“What’s this for?” Co asked.

“Somebody dared me to steal an ice cream sandwich,” Shane said. “I did, but I felt horrible.”

“Because you stole from people you admired?” I asked.

Shane said, “Well that, and the only place I could hide it was in my sweatpants. Some little girl in line in front of me was counting out nickels on the counter to pay for her candy. Took forever!”

Co and I both smiled. She said, “You were in grade school when you used to come into the store. Guess it’s never too late to make amends.”

Today I’ll remember it’s never too late to make amends.

Jury Duty © 2020 by Ken Montrose

Jury Duty is a work of fiction. Any similarity between the characters and anyone you might know is purely coincidental.

Other works by Ken Montrose are available at: www.greenbriartraining.com https://www.pinterest.com/kenmontrose/mt-rose/

Help Someone Help Someone

“That’s how you know her husband,” I said to Shane, “but how do you know Co?”

Co answered. “When Roose feeds Deckman, I watch the coffee shop.” She stared at Shane until she recognized him. “You used to come into the shop after school. Giant bag of Doritos and two liter Mountain Dew, every day. Boy, how are you not 300 lbs. and toothless?”

Shane said. “Good genes. Even as a kid, I liked how you helped your husband help Deckman.  Now I work an extra shift once a month and give the money to charity.  Feels good to help someone help someone.”

Today I will help someone help someone.

Jury Duty © 2020 by Ken Montrose

Jury Duty is a work of fiction. Any similarity between the characters and anyone you might know is purely coincidental.

Other works by Ken Montrose are available at: www.greenbriartraining.com https://www.pinterest.com/kenmontrose/mt-rose/

The Right Thing

Halfway through the meal, Shane stared at Co. A smile lit up his face. “I know you,” he said, and got up to hug her.

“I don’t think we ever met,” Co said.

“Your husband is Roose.  He runs the coffee shop.  He feeds Deckman.  Good dude, your husband is a good dude.”

“Who’s Deckman?” I asked.

Shane explained. “Deckman lives in a tent under the deck of his house. He’s too paranoid to go inside. Five days a week Roose leaves the shop to take Deckman a meal. Deckman snarls at him, but he still does it.”

Co laughed. “Roose has a heart of gold.  For him, it’s just the right thing to do. He thinks someday Deckman will trust him, and he’ll be able to get Deckman help.”

“Do the next right thing,” I said. Co and Shane looked at me. “It’s an AA slogan.  You say it to people when they’re trying to do right, but life isn’t getting better.  You’ve made me think it has another meaning. Do the next right thing even if the other guy’s life isn’t getting better right away.”

Today I’ll try to do the next right thing for someone.

Jury Duty © 2019 by Ken Montrose

Jury Duty is a work of fiction. Any similarity between the characters and anyone you might know is purely coincidental.

Other works by Ken Montrose are available at: www.greenbriartraining.com https://www.pinterest.com/kenmontrose/mt-rose/

Just Rewards                

We broke for lunch. The judge instructed us not to discuss the trial. I asked if anyone wanted to go for pizza. Corrine, who insisted I call her Co, said she wanted a salad. And maybe some garlic breadsticks.

“I love those breadsticks dunked in marinara,” Co said.

Shane, a young man of about 20 with shaggy blond hair said, “If you’re gonna dunk bread in sauce, you might as well get pizza. Reward yourself for doin’ your civic duty on this jury.”

“I think I’m going to like you,” Co said.  The three of us went for pizza. Shane explained his theory that many people’s troubles came from not knowing how to reward themselves. They give themselves rewards they haven’t earned, they skip ones they have, and pick rewards that complicate their lives.

“How do you reward yourself?” I asked, thinking his reward likely involved a not quite legal substance.

“I have invested in my bed. I bought the best sheets I could afford. I have blackout curtains, sound canceling panels, a white noise system, and the quietest AC unit.  Sleep is my reward.”

“Won’t make you fat, get you arrested, or leave you feeling empty,” Co said, nodding her head.

Today I’ll reward myself wisely.

Jury Duty © 2019 by Ken Montrose

Jury Duty is a work of fiction. Any similarity between the characters and anyone you might know is purely coincidental.

Other works by Ken Montrose are available at: www.greenbriartraining.com https://www.pinterest.com/kenmontrose/mt-rose/

People are People

The DA’s opening arguments focused on the law.  She explained why Deiter was being charged, and why Martin had taken a plea deal. It was all very cut and dry.

Then the DA summed up her argument by saying we need to send a message to people.  Maybe she was just doing her job, but I thought I heard a mixture of contempt and anger in her voice. I got the impression she really didn’t think addicted people were truly people.

I got it. People get hurt by other people’s addictions. Most people who get addicted avoid getting help for years, if ever.  I would have bet my house she’d damaged by someone else’s addiction.

I wished I could introduce her to people who’d turned their lives around, who spent much of their free time helping other people recover from addiction. 

“Hold us responsible for our actions,” I said to myself, “but remember, we’re still people.”

Today I’ll remember addicted people are people just the same.

Jury Duty © 2019 by Ken Montrose

Jury Duty is a work of fiction. Any similarity between the characters and anyone you might know is purely coincidental.

Other works by Ken Montrose are available at: www.greenbriartraining.com https://www.pinterest.com/kenmontrose/mt-rose/

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