A personal note
I mentioned a couple of weeks ago that I was going to be distracted for a while. I let you know because I thought it might affect my writing, and I might respond less frequently. Some of you nicely expressed concern so I wanted to let you know what was happening, now that it’s over.
I do want to warn you that this is not a comfortable topic, and some of you may want to just skip this one.
I was on a jury. This isn’t my first time on a jury, and I don’t try to avoid them. It’s inconvenient, but I do think it’s a responsibility and an important duty. I also figure, if not me, then it will be someone else. It could certainly be harder for that person than for me.
This particular case was very stressful, though, and stayed with me at night and on the weekends. It was an extreme case of child sexual abuse. No such case would be easy to hear, but I think this was particularly difficult. There’s no reason for me to go into details. The perpetrator (guilty on all counts) was in the room with us, and the victim testified.
One of the hardest things for me was not being able to talk to my Significant Other about it. I don’t like being away from my SO, and this was a bit like that in a tiny way.
Well, I just wanted to let you know…I thought some of you might be wondering. It will take me a while to recover, honestly, but I am glad to have it behind me. My participation in this, of course, is nothing compared to the people actually involved. My heart goes out to all of them.
This post by Bufo Calvin originally appeared in the I Love My Kindle blog.
July 29, 2010 at 3:52 am |
Ugh… Glad that’s over for you (and for the victim)!
July 29, 2010 at 3:54 am |
Thanks for writing, tuxgirl!
I appreciate that thought…all of it.
July 30, 2010 at 1:14 am |
Hi Bufo,
I want you to know that I thought about you frequently on my midnight trek to Cloud’s Rest in Yosemite. I did indeed read my kindle while the rest of the crazy crew climbed the last scary 350 yds. But I am writing now to say how sorry I am that you had to endure that trial. What a horrific experience for all involved. I am hoping that time with your S.O. and the distraction of K3 will help make these next days and weeks pass a little more easily…yours, Jessica
July 30, 2010 at 2:52 am |
Thanks for writing, Jessica!
I really appreciate that thought! While it doesn’t diminish anything, the announcement of the K3 was a welcome point of focus.
July 30, 2010 at 2:07 am |
Thanks for serving! And for caring about the young victim. I once worked in a prison, and the least popular inmates (among the inmate population) were those who had harmed children. It was recommended we not ask “What are you in for?” and the wisdom of that advice became clear as I learned an inmate colleague was there for killing a 2 year old. A real conversation-stopper that, even though God still loves us all equally.
July 30, 2010 at 2:56 am |
Thanks for writing, Man in the Middle!
I went to a dinner for sort of “honor inmates” at San Quentin once. We also didn’t ask…
August 1, 2010 at 8:46 pm |
I just discovered your sight (from the Kindle discussion sites) and I am primarily a lurker, most likely because I spend my day interacting with all kinds of people and when I get home at night all I want is down time. However, I could not just let this go because my grand daughter is a sexual abuse victim and her case has been just hanging on and on and on and continues to be postponed by the perpetrator and his attorney. It has been frustrating for us and scary for her (she’s 12) and I cannot wait for the whole thing to come to a satisfying end for us. I guess what I’m trying to say is thanks to you and people like you who take the time to do their civic duty and appropriately apply justice.
August 1, 2010 at 11:26 pm |
Thanks for writing, Pat!
I know that couldn’t have been easy to write. I appreciate you taking the time to do it, and I wish you all strength as you go through this. I want to say that, although not all of the people on the jury would have elected to serve, they all took the case very seriously, and committed themselves to a fair assessment of the evidence. I’m sure that’s generally the case.