One Way Street

As a Dallas native, you'd think Downtown Dallas(pictured above) would be a breeze for me.  Not so much.  I end up driving the wrong way on a one way street every time.  It's as reliable as the rising of the moon.  It WILL happen.  It would seem that I can do nothing to prevent it.  I just pray I make it out in one piece.  One thing is certain though, I always find my way out.  As it turns out most times, my adventures in avoiding head-on collisions often place me in the perfect spot to get out of the area.  Go figure.

It occurs to me that life is really the same way.  Sometimes we avoid things that seem like a "wrong way".  We follow the signs that have been laid out for us...keeping our lives moving in the same directions as everyone else.  The issue with this is that sometimes we need to get lost or turned around.  We need to travel down that one way street because in the end, it will get us to where we need to go.  Yes, it may go against conventional wisdom; hell, it may even be dangerous.  Sometimes we have to take risks.  Sure, there are roads that are well traveled and signs that tell us which way we should go, but hey...new roads are always being built.

The Bottom Line:
Don't be afraid of traveling the wrong way on a one way street.  It may end up being the exact path you needed to take.  Just watch for oncoming cars and chances are, you will still end up right where you belong!

Poignant Paint

They say Justice is blind.  I think she just operates in the dark, on her back, and for the right price.

As I awoke this past Monday morning, I was unusually calm.  I was up at 6:30am which, if you know me, you know that is no small feat.  Monday was my scheduled final child support hearing at the Tarrant County Courthouse.  I made my way through traffic with the greatest of ease.  I followed the speed limit.  I wasn't stressed.  It was actually a nice morning.  I arrived in downtown Ft. Worth and made my way to Houston St.  I came to a stop light on the corner of Weatherford St. and Houston St. and looked out my window.  What I saw next was a mixture of poignant and puzzling.  I was face to face with the Tarrant County Courthouse Annex.  I started to look at the walls of this building where justice is handed down daily. From a distance the building was not unlike many others you might see in Texas.  The brick was ornate.  It was built to look older and "justice chic".  Upon my stop light review, I realized that the entire building of law had only been painted to look like it was brick!  I was astonished.  I've seen better artwork in the projects.  You could see how one-dimensional the building really was.  It looked... well... terrible.  I actually laughed out loud.  I had never noticed this on my previous trip to this area of town.

That's when it hit me...

Justice isn't blind.  She just has shitty painters.  She cuts corners more than any airline.  She looks respectable from a distance.  Once you see her up close, you realize she is just cheap.  Justice is Julia Roberts before Richard Gere took her shopping.

In my experience with the courts, I've come to realize that Justice is not fair.  Our legal system is littered with loopholes and technicalities that make it impossible for anyone making less than six figures to get a fair shake.  I guess I shouldn't really be surprised.  This is a world governed, not by laws, but by money.  If you have enough of it, you might not even notice the courthouse walls.

The Bottom Line:

Don't be fooled by the paint job.  Justice has 20/20 vision and deep pockets sewn into her flowing yet easily removed gown.  Any woman who walks around with a damn sword can't be fully trusted.  ;-)