A friend recently told me that I was a crusader for justice.  I replied not at all, that’s not really me.  I am not the marching at rallies, waving flags, chanting, willing to get arrested type.  I value college football and the NFL on weekends too much to spend my time doing things like this.

But I will hold my ground.  Something interesting about my son the following – it”s nearly impossible to bribe or force him to do anything.  In fact, the more you try, the more he resists.  Apples and trees, I guess.

At NYC Investigations, run by a man who embodied Napoleonic complex and had the indignity of being the first ever Investigations Chief ever in city history to get fired by the Mayor for overstepping his authority, I got written up for talking and then not talking.  Kafkaesque.  I just wouldn’t fudge, misrepresent facts, make haphazard policy recommendations for them.  Or rubberstamp their politically motivated investigations of the NYPD.  Or laugh loudly at staff meetings at unfunny jokes.  Or clap loudly enough at the next Ivy League, ivory tower but totally devoid of common sense, street smarts plan.

During my last few weeks before I escaped to the NYPD, I would play a game at staff meetings to see how few words I could get away with saying.  The last meeting, I was oh so close to not saying a word.  My bosses ask me a question at the last minute and I so wanted the zero word record so badly, I just shook my head.  They told me I had to say something.  I think the final record was no more than 5 words.

I was thinking of getting a tattoo upon entering legal practice.  Totally cliche, but it would have been one of Lady Justice.  Not the boring stolid one you’ll see in courthouses or law offices.  The one I had in mind was half clothed (tastefully), about to strike with her sword while dangling her scales over her target.  

I’m so glad I did not go through with it.

I thought I would worship her.  But she proved not to be a worthy or faithful lover.