The Kindness of Strangers

Remember the ticket I moaned about a little bit ago?

Well, I'm slowly resolving the issue.

I threw a little party in my mind yesterday when a letter arrived saying that my petition to dismiss the assessment leveled against me for missing my court date was granted.  Champagne all around!  I feel like I'm $300 richer, even though it just means I don't have to pay that $300.  I have a court date in October to explain my situation to the judge.  I think he could rule either way on whether I'm guilty of running the red light, but at this point, I'd be happy if he'd remove the late fees and assign me traffic school so that the ticket doesn't go on my record.

Oh, to have a clean record!  I felt half a criminal just to be called guilty of failing to appear in court.

I didn't know until I went to court the first time that my license had also been suspended because I didn't come to court.  Good thing I didn't do any other lawbreaking during the interim!

So my mind has been eased somewhat because this little issue is being cleared up and swept away, just like so many other little stumbling blocks in life.

What really improved my outlook, though, has been the helpful attitude of the courthouse workers.  When I first found out about the ticket and called the court collections office, the agent was patient and listened to my long sob story and took her time clarifying the steps I needed to take.  I showed up at the courthouse with my baby to get the process started, and the security guards were kind about moving me to a shorter line to go through the metal detectors.  I didn't have to wait in line at the collections window. The agent there listened to my story again and gave me paperwork and an appointment to go to a hearing to request a hearing. (not sure what this is called - the arraignment?) The judge at this hearing was a most patient soul.  I was a part of a group of about 20 other scofflaws, all accused of traffic infractions, several who also had excuses for missing court.  80% of them had to ask for deferments or payment plans in order to pay their tickets.  The judge's easygoing demeanor didn't change, even when one jittery kid got up and hopped his way through his assessment, even when multiple people asked over and over what their options were, although the judge had explained them at least 17 times, even when one unbathed woman with a grocery cart full of notebooks painstakingly detailing a story about how the police were out to get her wanted to tell her story then and there, but the judge very politely interrupted her and reminded her that her opportunity to argue her case would be at her future court date.  The bailiff kept up a joshing banter with a lawyer.  The stenographers typed away smilingly.  Everyone seemed in such a good mood even though I, and all the other accused, were anxiously agitated.

So compliments to the county courthouse employees!  On a daily basis they encounter people at their lowest moments.  They deal with the innocently accused and the guilty, the repentant and the unrepentant.  They come face to face daily with people who don't want to be there and who consider them enemies.  But they smile! They come back to work! They are polite! Three times I had to go up to the collections office for paperwork or to file the paperwork.  Each time I was greeted kindly.  The third time they treated me like an old friend.  My own story was not too dramatic compared to some of the other situations I had the occasion to overhear.  But the workers seemed to know they needed to have a gentle demeanor in the face of all this sadness.

It could be that I just happened to show up on the days that all the nice people were working. I'm sure curmudgeons work at the courthouse, too.  The building has hardly any windows; I would be gloomy after spending hours there listening to people complain and offer excuses.  What grace to be able to work there with a smiling face and to respond to all the distress with kindness, instead of impatience.  Just by listening to my story and offering some advice, these strangers elevated my spirits.  Blessings on them.