Millie does her best to nudge Michael into getting up. I find it hilarious when she gives up and joins him for a snooze. She misses her college girl. I think she gets a bit depressed.
My one goal today was to finish my victim impact statement and get it mailed into the Department of Corrections, so my words can be included in the pre-sentencing report for Josiah's murderer. I have been DREADING doing this. The first two questions were fairly easy. There were tears as I shared how his murder has impacted me, how things have changed and then I hit question number 3. Share what you'd like the judge to know about your loved one, share memories, anything else you want the judge to know as he or she considers sentencing. Whew! My thoughts swirled. I knew I would need more than the space allowed. They encouraged you to add a page as needed...so I did. I had so much I wanted to communicate to the judge. At points in the trial, it felt like Josiah's life had less value than the defendant's right to a defense. The state has the burden of proof. This is good - but I didn't expect a defense lawyer can say hateful things which defamed Josiah's character without proof. But they can. I wanted the judge to know Josiah's life had value; he was a good, caring, loving man, and he mattered. I began writing...
Allie came home early from work. In the midst of breaking up a fight between a pure-bred Doberman and a mutt, she was thrown to the ground and injured in the tussle. Michael took her to urgent care for a check-up. Allie came home with an ace bandage for her acute sprain and strained ligaments AND most importantly a note for work. (Note *I* am being dramatic; Allie had to be persuaded to go to the doctor).
I continued to write and edit. We have been told we can speak at the sentencing, but we can't speak directly to the criminal and must direct our words to the court. I wrote much of what I want to say to HIM while telling the judge what I thought about various things, and I realized I COULD speak to him while addressing the court. snort:: This turned into a therapeutic exercise; gut-wrenchingly hard but therapeutic. My voice will be heard. I was allowed a bit of power in sharing who Josiah was; what the community lost with his murder, and what I think needs to be done.
 |
| Yes, I DID need additional pages! |
I fixed and served dinner. I hadn't spent much time outside today so I walked the packet down to the mailbox - 1.5 mile walk.
 |
| It's on its way. |
Stacia came home with a friend, Lonicera, and they took Allie's mind off her aching ankle. The girls will be in Lonicera's wedding in June.
 |
| This is my favorite shot. |
We enjoyed the brief visit. Millie is a bit perplexed by Stacia's comings and goings.
No comments:
Post a Comment