Working for the federal court leads to some very weird situations and questions. This past week, two aunts have emailed me asking for information that I don't actually have, but very easily Googled. Aunt Jan wanted info on her inlaw's wedding date (there is some controversy in the city of Elmdale about whether Joe and Dee were wed in January or June of 1937). Today, Aunt Carolyn emailed me asking for phone numbers or other contact info for the governor and the Kansas Congressional delegation because her boyfriend's son's ex-girlfriend is having trouble with the SRS. I can honestly say that I don't know the governor (although I have had dinner at her house and her husband is one of our federal judges) nor do I have an on-going acquaintance with any of the Congressional delegation (though I have been to the office of Senator Brownback in DC and have met Congressman Tiahrt numerous times), but I work for the government, so I must know these things. Well, the truth is, I usually do know those things, but not because of my work. I've had perfect strangers call the office to ask what, exactly, the President is thinking or why Congress made the decisions that they have made. Separation of powers is beyond the comprehension of the general public -- as is the state vs. federal systems of government. It makes me sad sometimes that adults who (presumably) took high school civics and have lived in the US all their lives struggle so to comprehend the workings of the government. I have to say, though, that I have worked for the court for a full third of my life (10 years this month!) and at least once a week I tell a caller, "I have absolutely no idea who you should call -- I just know it isn't me!"

You might think that I am annoyed by these queries -- I'm really not. I love when people ask me questions, and I love it even more when I find the answers. So, for now, my family and friends can bring on the weird government questions -- I'll just keep googling for the answers.