Just call me Bill Murray, because for the last several weeks I’ve surely been living my own version of Groundhog Day! You see, they liked me, they really liked me … and picked me as a juror. Despite everyone’s helpful hints, not to mention my own pleas about self-employment, loss of income, etc., I am an official juror, complete with badge.

So much like Murray, my days are always the same with little room for self-expression, independent thought or solo activity. Normally I live a pretty busy life – in fact, many of my friends and associates call me downright ubiquitous – showing up everywhere, everyday, at every healthcare event or meeting in South Florida (not to mention my daily visits to CompUSA or Circuit City.) And now, for all intents and purposes, I have been grounded … or should I say ground hogged.

Maybe that’s the good thing I can say about jury duty – it gives you a lot of time to just sit and reflect. And while I’m looking on the bright side – here’s my Top Ten List of Jury Duty Perks (David Letterman eat your heart out!).

  1. Free parking
  2. Free Molley the Trolley rides (rain or shine) to the courthouse
  3. Federal Holidays
  4. Lunch breaks – an excuse to eat grilled cheese and Fritos at the courthouse cafe
  5. It’s a 9-5 job (in this economy, who can complain)
  6. A guaranteed pay check – albeit it’s only $30 a day
  7. Respect – everyone in court stands up when I enter and leave the room
  8. Security – the sheriff escort takes me everywhere
  9. Free wi-fi service on my breaks
  10. A free movie in the jury waiting room everyday – except the movie only changes every 3-6 months. So basically I’ve watched the same first 15 minutes of The Guardian for almost 2 weeks now and Kevin Costner is getting a bit old.

I guess when you get right down to it, I’m doing an important job. I really try to remain impartial and listen to both sides. But after going over the same document up and down, backwards and forwards, can anyone blame me when I want to scream, “Deal or No Deal.”

So if you’ve been missing me that’s where I am, watching the wheels of justice grind very, very slowly.

Charles Felix, Publisher