So Kaylee (aka Thelma *original story here) went to court this afternoon.  She was a little nervous and came prepared with $100 hard earned dollars for her anticipated fine.

The Judge (Mayor) asked her about her school, grades, homelife, that kind of stuff.  She answered as I had hoped with a ‘yes,sir’ and a ‘no, sir’.  She explained what she had done to be pulled over.  Then, I sat in amazement and listened as the Mayor started handing down her ‘sentence’. 

She was given 8 hours of community service.  To be served AT HOME, in whatever way her mother (me!!) would see fit.  I smiled slightly to myself, secretly thinking of all the things I could have her do to help her learn her lesson.  Then, expecting the ‘monetary’ part of the fine, he actually did something I never would have expected.  He then told her part of the sentence was to take the time to write a letter to her mom and dad, explaining to us why she loved us, and what we mean to her. 

Then I felt tears welling up in my eyes.  Oh gosh!  Don’t cry right there in Mayors Court!  He explained very eloquently (especially for a man) that she should never take her parents for granted.  This letter, as she’s writing it should make her cry a couple times and should come from the heart.  She should take her time writing it and mean what she says.  (More tears welling).  The reason, he explains, looking her dead in the eyes, is that if something should happen to her….we would know how she felt about us….AND if anything should happen to Shane or I, she would know that she had told us how she felt and would never have to wonder if we really knew it.  (Now I’m gently batting tears from my face). 

What a wonderful experience!  I wonder how many first offenders would go a different way, had their Judge sat down, spent a few minutes, looked them in the eye and talked to them as this one talked to Kaylee.  What a moving experience this was.  We have to keep track of service hours and fax that along with the letter she writes us.  And he even humored me by letting me snap a pic to post on the blog!  Wow!