I had jury duty today. I have it again tomorrow.

This is my first time having jury duty. I don’t know how I’ve managed to avoid it in the past, but I guess everyone’s number comes up eventually.

I wasn’t picked for a jury today – I didn’t even get randomly picked to go through voir dire. But I got to watch a bunch of other people go through it. It was actually really interesting to listen to a group of randomly-assembled New Yorkers talk about their jobs, where they live, their family status, and whether they’d ever been the victim of a crime. (If I get chosen for voir dire tomorrow I guess I’ll mention this incident.)

It’s fun playing anthropology at jury duty. Especially in Manhattan, with all its diversity. Among the randomly-chosen people were a fashion designer, a magazine editor, some corporate types, a vegetable-stand owner, a custodian, and an actress/cocktail waitress.

Also, there were two Svetlanas.

Assuming I don’t actually get picked for a jury, jury duty isn’t so bad.