It’s funny how your life’s path has its twists and turns.
There are times when I am feeling funny, and flip, and I usually try to find the humor in the face of adversity. But today is not one of those times. I am talking straight up, and I hope that everyone is listening.
A year ago I was bitching and complaining about my bitching and complaining daughters. Today I’m standing beside one of them and holding her hand as she takes the stand in a courtroom in the hopes of ending a traumatic and stressful couple of YEARS.
In Oregon, and I’m sure elsewhere in the US, a person who is charged with a crime must face the judge to determine if there is just cause for a trial. (OR something like that) After being prepped by an amazing assistant D.A., and several wonderful detectives, Sassy felt confident that the decision to move forward, and take this seriously, was the right one.
She had to go ON THE STAND and answer many, many questions from this young man’s attorney. I explained to her beforehand that his attorney was just doing his job. She needed to remember that it wasn’t PESONAL, and that she just had to be HONEST when answering the questions. Honesty- that was the rule of the day.
I was sequestered OUTSIDE the courtroom, and was not able to be inside close to her on a defining moment in her young life. I stood outside the glass doors at the very back of the courtroom and watched as she raised her hand, and then settled into the hot seat. It just about killed me.
I watched as best I could, making sure I was in her line of vision. I sent her all the strength I could muster and waited. During those 40 minutes my stomach was turning inside out, and I was pretty sure that I was going to lose the contents at any minute. I saw her leave the stand and walk down the aisle toward the back of the courtroom and knew it was my turn. As she left the courtroom to compose herself, I made my way down the aisle.
It’s amazing to me how much courage you can have when your child’s well-being is at stake.
At the end of it all, it was determined that there was enough evidence for this to proceed. When we were finished and in the hall preparing to leave, Sassy and I clung to each other and wept.
We pray that this unfortunate young man finds his way. There were several times that I looked at him and was reminded that HE is someone’s little boy. It broke my heart. He has his whole life ahead of him – and if he doesn’t see this as his chance to change, then he’s doomed.
So, on this day after Thanksgiving, our hope is that we can all send a prayer his way to speed him along this path of healing. We are working very hard at this home to heal our little one.
Let’s hope his lesson has been learned.
