Me and Jury Duty..!

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A few weeks ago I received a notice in mail (addressed in my name) to show up at the courthouse to be a potential juror. I'm more than happy to do my duty as a citizen but because of CJ with his Autism and not having any family here or friends that aren't working during the day (that could watch him if I couldn't get home before he got home from school) I filled out the questionnaire asking to be released. I received a reply basically saying, "Too bad." I had to show up anyway and the Judge would decide whether I would be excused or not. I had to call a pre-recorded message the night before; it was to confirm the date and time. The recorder said 10am but the reply I received told me 9am. So, after taking CJ to school because I had forgotten to call the bus to start picking him up again from being sick, I rushed home to finish getting ready. I got to courthouse at 8:45, went in and showed the Circuit Court Clerk my papers. I thought I had to be there early because of wanting to be dismissed but she apologized and told me that the Judge wouldn't even be there until after 10. I went back outside and sat in my vehicle until quarter to 10, went in, stood in line outside the courtroom where they were checking people's names off as they arrived. We all had to walk through the metal detector of course, and when it was my turn I told her my name. She found it but it was my husband's name, not mine. I freaked a bit and told her that the summons had been addressed to me or I wouldn't have opened it. I didn't want Mark or I to get into trouble. She said she would ask what was to be done. I sat in courtroom with the other potential jurors and watched while they started picking the 12 + 1...I got a little anxious after a few hours; went to back of room and asked if I should call my husband at work to have him come. She went and asked the Clerk and came back telling me that the Judge had excused me. It was an interesting morning, to say the least.