Try to Relax

As a trial lawyer I spend a lot of time in Court. It is not a trial everyday. Instead many days are spent just making pre-trial appearances while the case winds its way through the court system. For instance, this afternoon I will appear on two traffic matters. My actual time in the courtroom will be, if I am lucky, about five minutes. My time in front of the judge will be nil. I will walk in, go to the clerk, tell her we need a new date because this is the first appearance and we don’t even have the police reports. She will look at the wall calendar, select a date in the future, ask me if it is a good date for me and if I have that date available she will mark it on her calendar and I on mine. I’ll be done.

This morning I am off to a different start. Although I have a preliminary hearing scheduled this morning at 10:30 I get to start my morning off meeting with a young man who is a web site developer, maintainer, fixer and changer. I have no idea what his official professional designation is. I call him a web site guru. He is probably tired of that moniker. My guess is that the phrase is one that dates me as a man of a certain age.

This morning we chose to meet at Shaw’s Coffee on The HIll. It is on the corner of Shaw and Marconi. The Hill is a unique place in St. Louis. It is a small picture of Italian culture. It is filled with Italian restaurants, markets and shops. Vivianos Grocery is right next door and I will make a visit there before I leave today.

I thought my meeting was at eight this morning. Apparently it is at nine. I have a habit of being early so I am sure this is my bad. I am using the time well. I am just sitting and watching and listening. Two ladies sat down at the table next to me. I have not heard, not do I want to hear, most of their conversation. But I did hear one excitedly announce that she was going to be meeting with St. Charles Mayor Patti York. Quite a coincidence, I thought, being from St. Charles County and all.

They are involved in some project that will also have them meeting with the press. I should look at them and remember their faces.

The traffic here is surprising. It shouldn’t be. The place has a lot more character than a Starbucks and the prices are better. I had an Americano and a biscotti, chocolate of course. It was under five dollars.

There is a mix of business people, what appear to be students and those who seem familiar enough to be locals. Sitting right outside on the patio is a young man in a striped T-shirt, beads around his neck and tattoos everywhere. A young lady sits nearby hunched over her laptop like a mad scientist looking at an experiment. Just as I write that a man much her senior, and with whom she is not familiar comes up and introduces himself. She is obviously expecting him. They sit and a meeting starts in earnest without even ordering a coffee. He wears a St. Louis Police Department lanyard. A detective, maybe?

She begins speaking in a loud, animated voice. It appears he has handed her a photo lineup. She studies it for a moment and then makes some marks. He retrieves it without saying anything and puts it in his folder. Correct police procedure, I might add.
Well that brings me back to my schedule. It is time to go to court for my preliminary hearing. There are little times like these that present themselves for all of us to enjoy. It is up to us to recognize them and then take advantage, even if you are a lawyer. Hope you find yours today.