You are currently browsing the daily archive for April 18th, 2007.
On Monday morning I battled heavy winds and torrential rain that swept across the town to get to the Courthouse. Passing the neighbouring farm so reminiscent of Provence, I noticed that the geese were having a field day splashing in the pond twice its normal size. Walking to my attorney’s office, I had my umbrella turned inside out resigning myself to the ‘wet look’ in front of the judge. We entered the Courthouse, our high heels clicking in unison, wheeling my heavy file behind us. To my relief, we settled the tax and house issues in a conference room and only reported to the judge our decision.
It was a strange experience standing next to my Wasbund, attorney on each side, swearing on the Bible to speak the truth and nothing but the truth. I’ve seen it done in the movies many times. Except this was not a movie. This was my real life. I wondered if everyone had to swear on the Bible regardless of their religion or beliefs. How did they know that I wasn’t an atheist or a Buddhist? The Bible would mean diddly squat then.
Why does my mind keep wondering like this all the time? I need to concentrate on what the Wasbund’s lawyer is reciting to the judge. No, I’ll let my lawyer do that and I’ll keep pondering about how many couples like us has the man typing with a disinterested mask over his face seen in his lifetime. Back to reality where the lawyers are firing comments to each other over our heads. Judge gets pissed off and leaves, telling our attorneys to sort out the exact wording of a clause in question. He leaves us standing long after we have reached the agreement. I remind myself of our lawyers combined hourly rate. At least two out of four people are not wasting their time. The judge returns. Wasbund and I answer lots of questions with “I do your honor.” A very different kind of “I do” than the one we uttered 19 years ago.
We leave the courtroom. It’s still raining cats and dogs.
