3 a.m

It's been a hard week around here for purely personal, and a what has to be some outta whack karma, reasons. Nothing worth going into - and nothing that will rock the foundations of society. Just sort of a collection of stuff that, really, the timing wasn't great.

And, whenever I start to gaze too deeply into my navel, some perspective always finds me.

Like the phone ringing at 3 a.m.

Because it's so recent a case, I can't really tell any details - other than to say "kid/adult, $100,000 bond" I love to see cases in which law enforcement comes out in full force. It's pretty easy to bash law enforcement as lazy or disinterested or corrupt. But, the fact of the matter is that we place pretty hefty responsibilities and serious decision making and little pay and little training on law enforcement. Frankly, it's a wonder anyone still wants to be a cop these days.

And, I love to see cases in which medical staff is on top of being good medical professionals as well as expressing appropriate care and concern for the victim. Like most cases, this one involved people who are well acquainted with each other. And, although most of us on "this side" of the crime find it easy to demonize the perp -- in this case, the nurse was sensitive to acknowledge that although the "perp" was behaving very badly indeed, at the same time he was someone they cared about.

I'm pretty confident in this case. The victim is a "good kid" and was cooperative. The immediate family was responding appropriately. Law enforcement and medical folks were on top of their game. And, it's one of those cases in which a jury will be appropriately indignant when they hear the details.

So, it's worth it to be up at 3 a.m -- especially after tumbling into bed at 1:30 a.m.