And just like that, I seemed to have a lot of time on my hands. I was finished with school, leaving me to only work at The Star Free Press, and all of a sudden, a 40-hour work week seemed to be like a vacation.
On this Tuesday, the paper was laid out and put to print. I looked at the schedule of sports events and planned out which ones I would attend and which ones I would check on later with a call to a coach. But none of that compared with doing this job AND taking 21 credit hours at Miami University.
How would I fill my time? Rather abruptly, a wedding was planned for May 21, so there were matters to attend to. But it didn't take a genius to see we were rushing things. With me only 22 and she was only 20, we weren't ready. As they say, marriage is an enormous commitment, and you have to be the best of yourself before you can be a good partner to someone else.
Aside from that, I worked. And waited to see how this new chapter would play out.
...
July 5-7, 1983 -- Well, Maybe I Do Want To Go To Law School
The charge was murder and I ended up as juror number 5, front row, far to the left, in the case of State v. Jerry Howard, with Judge William Young presiding. Joanne Hash delivered the powerful opening statement declaring Mr. Howard was a thug who was up to no good and was basically looking to get high. When his victim would not give him what he wanted, that's when he killed him. But in response, defense attorney Jack Bunce said Mr. Howard lacked the ability to distinguish between right and wrong, and therefore he should be found not guilty by reason of insanity.
And so for three days I sat in a Warren County courtroom to do my civil service for the grand sum of $10.00 per day.
During her case in chief, Ms. Hash made her points. But then in response, Mr. Bunce and his co-counsel, Bill Fowler, made their points, too. By the time we broke for lunch on the second day, Judge Young told us to the defense would present its case once we returned.
My dad took me to lunch at The Village Ice Cream Shoppe, which was a little awkward because he knew I couldn't talk about any aspects of the case. Just after we ordered, he was approached by a man he called Judge Bowers, who I knew was the Juvenile-Probate Court judge.
They talked for a second, when introduced me, telling the judge I was serving on a jury in Judge Young's courtroom.
"Oh, that retrial?" Judge said. He then was off to court and wishing me luck.
Dad and I sat in silence for a long, long time.
"Dad," I said finally. "They've not said anything about this being a retrial."
And Dad practically broke down. "I know, and they're going to think I was the one who told you."
...
AS I WENT home on Thursday night, after we had deliberated for almost three hours before returning with a verdict of guilty, I reflected on how much responsibility there was in being a juror. But also there was a deal feeling of satisfaction, like what I did made a difference.
I was led to a conclusion I would have never seen coming only three days earlier.
I think I'd like to go to law school.
...
October 22, 1983 -- The First Step, The LSAT
I remember saying this was the first step towards "our" future. The LSAT is a bizarre test that is designed to test a person's aptitude for law school. So I headed to the University of Dayton to see how well I would do.
The answer came swiftly and severely.
Not well.
Okay, so let's see where this journey may go.