My wife and I had several opportunities to meet, but never did until that fateful day when we both responded to our civic duty and arrived for Jury Duty on May 20, 1991. We were both in college and Susan lived in a houseful of women whom were on my floor the previous year in the UVM dorms. Though I had visited that house often, I had never met her until we were very briefly introduced by our common friends in early May. It seemed unspectacular at the time, but two weeks later murder brought us together and our worlds have never been separated.
Jury selection was hastily convened in Chittenden County Court for a high-profile murder that had been committed in Franklin County. I had arrived for jury duty as required promptly at 8:00 a.m. Immediately opening the door behind me was the most beautiful smile attached to the prettiest woman I had ever seen (fortuitously the only time I have ever been earlier than her to this day!). A familiar face in an uncomfortable place was the perfect combination. My charm took over and we shared the best cup of worst coffee we have ever known. It was free, so I treated; a recurring theme in our blissful relationship. As the jury selection progressed, so did our budding romantic interest. Fortunately she was eliminated and I was an alternate-alternate, otherwise we would have been sequestered for over two weeks together and a mistrial certainly would have ensued!
As our 90-day jury duty sentence continued, so did our interest in each other. We were often forced to conceal our growing love during the succeeding jury selections to avoid any hint of impropriety in the judicial process. Our first official date was an evening hike up Camel’s Hump followed early the next morning by a subsequent hike up Mt. Pisgah. She never faltered, and neither have we. 13 years and two beautiful children later, we are still very much in love!
So when friends and co-workers bemoan the fact that they have been called to serve their civic duty and squirm for excuses to avoid having to appear, I simply remind them, “You just never know who you might meet on jury duty!”
