1) An Employee, or
2) A Guest, or
3) A Juror
Some of the other options are not so pleasing, but the window view from the 19th floor is incredible.
As a guest, I stood and looked down at the Bayou and across the blue horizon while thinking about how fortunate we are to have such an incredible metropolitan area at our fingertips.
Standing here at the corner window, I see the bayou below and kayakers have just paddled through the waters within my view. It strikes me as slightly ironic that I'm standing here in air-conditioning on the 19th floor watching people kayak below as a murder trial is taking place a few steps away. Trying to momentarily detach from the serious business of this place, I enjoy my sky-high viewpoint and watch the ant-people below. Strangely, in this high-rise professional building, I feel as if the kayakers are so close, yet simultaneously far away; they are within my eyesight, yet they are experiencing an alternate existence. This moment is so typical of Houston. By kayak, the sightseeing group actively enjoys another interesting perspective of our city. With leisure, they paddle onward in their kayaks. It's awesome that they are getting to savor nature with the Harris County Criminal Courts building behind them, looming skyward.
This moment yet again confirms my strong belief; this is the city with just about everything. In fact, if you live in the Houston area, you should rarely find an opportunity to be bored. Well, that does not mean you will not come across a boring person...those are everywhere. Personally, I believe that country living, solitary moments and quiet times do not qualify as boring times. Being drab is about poor personal character; it is not a reflection of your GPS position nor is it a lack of tickets to a scheduled event. However, if you live within the Greater Houston area and are complaining of being bored, then you need to take action. It does not take much effort to find simple enjoyment in this town. So much of it is free.
Want to get out of Houston? There are great options. To start, drive a few miles North of Houston and you can finding yourself walking through a forest. Go the other direction and you're standing on the beach. What could be better?
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| Harris County Criminal Courthouse courtroom - obviously not in session. |
And if you still desire alternative entertainment, go hang out for a day at the court house and watch your local judicial system in action. But, to warn you, it might not be very "entertaining." It could actually be mentally disturbing. Therefore, for a softer side of court life, you will find, the Harris County Civil Courts building just across the street from the Harris County Criminal Courts building. Make sure to leave any weapons at home because you will need to first go through the metal detectors, but that is no big deal. You might also want to wear shoes that are easy to slip on and off because you often must remove them during procedures to enter the building. Yes, it's an adventure. Good thing is...entrance is free.
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| Early morning Harris County Criminal Courthouse hallways soon to be full. |
Just remember that a civil court proceeding can also be rough. In fact, some people prefer a criminal court room over a family court session highlighting a child's life as the pawn. It's a personal choice. Regardless, it has been argued that the courtroom is often more fascinating than an orchestrated live-theater performance. In the courtroom, you just might see actual hand-cuffs in use; you might hear a Bailiff's booming verbal lashing; you might see orange jumpers as the latest, yet classic jailhouse fashion; a judge being judicial; and you can make a mental notation as you watch good and bad lawyers earning their reputation. Put down the remote, and go check it out.
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