By the time we got to court today, the rain had lessened to a drizzle. As my son and I turned the corner of the building we saw about five or six people already huddled under the awning of the doorway. Which was apparently locked. Not to be opened until 8:15 sharp for 8:30 court time, come rain or come shine.
I clapped my hands and burst into laughter. "Talk about bureaucracy in action!" I said, and several people smiled with me.
I have a long pent up frustration with traffic court. It all comes from the time I was pulled over in a forest preserve for going 30 mph.
"Excuse me, ma'am", the officer said. "Are you in a hurry?"
"If I was in a hurry," I replied, "would I be going 30?"
Oops. Sarcasm before thought. No amount of red lipstick helped sweeten those words. Off to court I went, involving a day off of school and more details than I can remember because that was in 1995.
Now it's 2009, and my beloved son received a ticket for going 40mph in a 3o zone. $75.00 in tickets, $65.00 in court costs, and $50.00 in an on line class later, we found ourselves sitting across from each other at Dmitri's Greek Pancake House in Downers Grove.
I smiled at him, he laughed with me. We had the best breakfast ever. Fortunately, or not, I have taught him everything I know.
Sweet!
ReplyDeleteSome officers have NO sense of humor! Well, they have to live with themselves, we don't so too bad for them. I've had my share of tickets in my younger years. Its a right of passage I guess.
ReplyDeleteSo cute :) I hate getting traffice tickets. I like that, "no amount of red lipstick" could get you out of that one....LOL
ReplyDeleteI find that usually does work....LOL
Have a Happy Day, Bellezza :)
Nope. No amount of red lipstick (or any other color) would ever get me out of a traffic ticket, either...
ReplyDeletejust went through this with my own son! :)
ReplyDeletePretty difficult to get angry with him after having such an enjoyable breakfast together, eh? Everything happens for a reason, right? :)
ReplyDeleteBTW, a Greek pancake house sounds lovely. I'd probably pick it over IHOP or Waffle House ANY day!
Awww - bonding with the son. This is good!! but now I'm hungry for pancakes ;-P
ReplyDeleteMy guy got a speeding ticket a year ago and he went to court to defend it (he was not speeding, the car in front of him was) and he had laryngitis, so they pushed it back. The police officer followed us outside and pretty much threatened him! I didn't have any problems with my voice, but I kept my mouth shut. I was very proud of myself... As I spent the entire car ride home voicing all the opinions I had held in! He refuses to pay the ticket though (which I can understand), so I guess if he loses that means jail time... The police officer threatened to push papers through that would raise the fine to over a thousand dollars! *ahem* Sorry, your post made me think of it...
ReplyDeleteYour sons experience sounds much better...
It is often the strangest circumstances that give us the best opportunities to really connect with our kids!
ReplyDeleteSee? I knew you'd pick the same restaurant as I did! It was a whopping $27.50 for just the two of us, but I guess that's what happens when you let your kid order a second side of bacon. I figure it was $27.50 well spent just to have the time together.
ReplyDelete