Detroit- Let's say something positive

Well after looking at the title I guess I should say Wayne County.

For the first time in my adult life I got called for jury duty. I alternated between it is my civic duty and I really don't want to do this. With dread my Explorer and I headed to downtown Detroit to the Courthouse with my Mapquest directions beside me in the seat. Arrival time was set for 7:45am so I left home at 6:30am still in the dark (making it hard to read my directions and drive with the flow of traffic on I-275 and I-96 and I- 75 and I-375). With no problem I navigated to the vicinity of where I was suppose to be but of course finding the exact location was not in the cards. So unlike many a man that I know I pulled into the nearest gas station (still dark in downtown Detroit) and tried to decide what my safest option was for getting directions (getting out of the car, calling someone over). Luckily I look over from my parking spot to see a Smart Moves Van that was having mechanical difficulties a mechanic with his head under the hood. I asked for help. This wonderful man gave me specific directions and made me repeat them twice to make sure I had them. Can you believe I was heading away from my destination? Anyway I wish I had gotten his name because he should be commended for his polite demeanor and his precise directions. With the Baseball Playoffs coming it is nice to know we have people on the street who will help.

So I made it to the courthouse found a parking space across the street for a bargain price of $8 and headed to duty. My guess is about 150 people where in the room dressed from suit to sweatpants from every rank and file, but all , well at least the ones I sat next too where there to serve even though they hoped not to be selected. Our county employee that organized these ranks had a wonderful soothing voice and delivered out instructions in an informative yet funny manner (somewhat like that of a Southwest Flight Attendent). Then I begin the wait with my book and snacks I am ready to endure.

Low and Behold my name is called in the second group only 2 hours 15 minutes after my arrival. We were directed to the appropriate floor and stood outside a courtroom. This was actually the worst thing that happened in my day, because I had worn the wrong shoes for standing so my feet hurt and my stomach was beginning to growl. After standing there for about 40 minutes out comes the court officer to say that the case was resolved and we were sent back to our original assembly room.

Time for my Diet Dr. Pepper from the snack shop ($1 for a can) and to finish my book "Islands". I sat next to a nice man who was hoping for an early dismissal and then took a nap and began to snore. What is the appropriate action for this? Me the ever polite Southern Girl just let him rest, if he wasn't bothering me I figured everyone else could live with it. Oh back to my book, Wow how an ending can change your whole idea on whether a book is good vs. great. When I was just about to start on my crossword puzzles the soothing voiced worker announces we can go home. YEAH!!!

Out the door I headed with my letter showing that I had been there stopping only to ask a court officer "HOW DO I GET OUT OF THIS PLACE?" Once again I received specific directions and was asked to repeat them. Do you think it is my strong southern accent in Downtown Detroit that causes people to think I have to repeat everything? Maybe they think I am from a foreign country, don't laugh since I have lived here I have gotten that question a number of times.

My point of this post is to say today I ran into many polite, happy, nice folks in Detroit. Many times only the negative is publicized and then that is what we expect to see, but today I saw none of the negative and it made me smile.