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To avoid being influenced by the news or other people. I had never heard of the defendant, but a lot of people who had appeared for jury selection had. I was seated in the the back so I was sure I wouldn’t be chosen for the jury, but I was wrong. One by one most of the people talked to the judge and left. Apparently they were prejudiced about the fellow and couldn’t be impartial.

So when we were sequestered we couldn’t watch the news or talk to one another or our families (via telephone) about the case. I was only an alternate juror, so when it was time for the jurors to deliberate the morning of the sixth day, I was free to go home. I was curious to see what they decided, but it was easy to find out. I just watched the local news that evening. They announced the defendant was found guilty of selling food stamps and interviewed him. What did he plan to do? Appeal the verdict. That must be expensive, how would he pay for it? Probably sell more food stamps. I still remember laughing when I heard that.

December 13, 2024

During those two months I was on call for jury duty in District Court, I had to go down to Alburquerque twice when I wasn’t chosen. (The second time was fun because Kaitlin could come with me and went spent the night in a motel the night before.) Then I had to go and was chosen for a trial which took two and half days. Finally I was almost at the end, just ten days to go. The new call was only for Santa Fe, so I figured no matter what I could be home by dinner time. Uh, nope. I was sequestered for the rest of the week. They did drive us all to our homes so we could pack.

So when Kaitlin came home there were three strangers (fellow jurors) standing on our porch, and the man in the living room introduced himself as a federal marshal. When she came into the bedroom she saw me packing and said,

Mommy, what did you do?!

A perfectly valid question.

December 12, 2024

to be over 70. Why? Because in Monday’s mail I received a summons for two months of jury duty for the Northern Division of the U. S. District Court of New Mexico. That would mostly mean trips to Albuquerque, 100 miles away. (Very occasionally the trials would be in Santa Fe, only a 35-minute drive.).

I had to do it over 40 years ago. Then someone had personally come to my door and had me sign that I had received the summons. This time I only had to go online and answer a number of questions, including that I was over 70 and chose to opt out.

This time was a lot easier.

December 11, 2024

Rose posted this here. What an incredibly smart pup!

December 10, 2024

For posting this video.

I know some readers here have seen it, but others may not have. And it’s way too funny not to share with everyone. Again, thank you!

December 9, 2024

Click on the picture to see the video.

December 8, 2024

December 7, 2024

Click on the picture to see the video, and make sure the sound isn’t muted.

Here’s another husky at the vet’s. He doesn’t fight being carried in, but he sure lets people know how he feels.

I laugh every time I watch it.

December 6, 2024

But this husky is cute. (Click on the picture and be sure the sound isn’t muted.)

December 5, 2024

Carver, that is. For these words, engraved on his tombstone:

LATE FRAGMENT
And did you get what
you wanted from this life, even so?
I did.
And what did you want?
To call myself beloved, to feel myself
beloved on the earth.

And this poem, also engraved on his tombstone:

GRAVY
No other word will do. For that’s what it was. Gravy.
Gravy these past ten years.
Alive, sober, working, loving and
being loved by a good woman. Eleven years
ago he was told he had six months to live
at the rate he was going. And he was going
nowhere but down. So he changed his ways
somehow. He quit drinking! And the rest?
After that it was all gravy, every minute
of it, up to and including when he was told about,
well, some things that were breaking down and
building up inside his head. “Don’t weep for me,”
he said to his friends. “I’m a lucky man.
I’ve had ten years longer than I or anyone
expected. Pure gravy. And don’t forget it.”

Andy and I have never had to struggle with alcoholism, but we’re clearly living our gravy years. That’s the beauty of reading and writing. You are never alone. There are a multitude of kindred spirits to connect with.

December 4, 2024