I've kept a few remnants of my old world, where I was a full-time attorney in a law firm who litigated on a regular basis. But as my new world as an alumni director becomes more and more demanding, my old world has become more and more distant. Especially since I haven't been replacing clients as their cases have finally been resolved.
One of my very last clients is the father of 3 children. He and his ex have been fighting over the kids for 14 years! The youngest child who is 14, has never known anything but litigation between her parents. I've been representing him since 2001.
The thing that distinguishes this case from others is that the ex represents herself. This makes the case extremely challenging and makes everything about three times harder as she doesn't understand issues or confuses things or just won't listen.
We've been to court many times over the years. Four years ago I successfully got him awarded custody of his kids, only to have him return two of them to their mother within the year. But, he hung on to the youngest, his only daughter, with all his strength.
Well, two years ago, the ex filed a motion to get custody of the daughter too. And we went to court this week. It was long and nasty, but in the end, my client will keep his daughter. The other two children will be or are adults now. We were all tired of the litigation and they all swear they won't go back to court. I'm hoping so, as I'm especially tired of their fighting over the children.
Today was a milestone for several reasons. One, I prevailed one more time for my client. But, somewhere along the way, I also determined that my custody trial days are now over. I love litigation, but my life is clearly going somewhere else. And, unless I make a U-turn, there won't be time or room for custody trials. So, I'm going out in a blaze of rulings in my favor. And, it feels good to know that I won't have to wear two hats; at least I won't wear the litigator's hat any more. I'm not sure what I am if I'm not a litigator, but it's probably time to find out.
Dreams Do Come True
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
For the past three years I've wanted a quilting machine of my very own. I've priced them, studied them, and dreamed about using one on my own quilts. I put one on my Christmas list and handed the list to my darling husband, the man who isn't the mayor, but should be.
"How much is one of these?" He asked.
"$7,000," I managed to say with a straight face.
"Why do you want one that is so expensive?"
"It's the best. Why do you fish with a $45,000 Triton bass boat?"
Conversation ended.
Well, the economy intervened and it's not like there aren't plenty of ways for me to spend my time while I wait.
Fast forward three years. A month ago I received an email from my wonderful sister-in-law Jesse titled: Quilting Machine. This is what I read . . . and noted.
Hi Jeri:
Bonnie gave me her quilting machine and stuff. I just don't think that I will ever use it. I am not a quilter. I thought I might be interested, but I just do not find a quilting bug in me. Too much cutting, and stitiching small items. Would you be interested in it? If you are not a quilter either, I do have a cousin in Elko who would like it. Bonnie almost gave it to her instead of me, so I know it would be all right with her if I gave it to her.
You are very clever with your knitting, much better than I am, so when I saw you with your knitting last night, I wondered if you would use this stuff. It has two large tables, a machine, frames and a video on how to use it, plus some fabric Bonnie left.
I told Bonnie that she could have it when she comes back, but I don't think she will take it back.
Let me know if you want it and we will bring it over. Otherwise, if you just want to look at it before, come by sometime and I will show you it to you before you decide. You really need a room dedicated to quilting.
Love, Jesse
With all apologies to the cousin in Elko, she will never see the quilting machine. After responding instantly to Jesse that YES, I wanted the machine, I suggested that she should call Don and tell him so he could give it to me for Christmas. She did call him, and smart man that he is, he claimed the machine for me, and called me a few days later to tell me that I had a quilting machine in a pile of parts in the basement.
When I got home that night, the parts were assembled into a real quilting machine in as few minutes as possible, only to find that a major part was missing: one of the two carriages the machine sat on, making the whole thing useless. AGHHHHH! So close and yet so far away.
After two calls to HandiQuilter where I finally talked to the right person who assured me that yes, they did replace missing parts, resulted in the carriage sitting in my sewing room five days later. And, now I have a quilting machine. Imagine the possiblities! I can't wait to start quilting.
And why haven't I quilted yet? I have two trials this month, and if I set up the quilting machine, I will never be ready to argue in court. But just check back after the 24th and see how dreams really do come true.
"How much is one of these?" He asked.
"$7,000," I managed to say with a straight face.
"Why do you want one that is so expensive?"
"It's the best. Why do you fish with a $45,000 Triton bass boat?"
Conversation ended.
Well, the economy intervened and it's not like there aren't plenty of ways for me to spend my time while I wait.
Fast forward three years. A month ago I received an email from my wonderful sister-in-law Jesse titled: Quilting Machine. This is what I read . . . and noted.
Hi Jeri:
Bonnie gave me her quilting machine and stuff. I just don't think that I will ever use it. I am not a quilter. I thought I might be interested, but I just do not find a quilting bug in me. Too much cutting, and stitiching small items. Would you be interested in it? If you are not a quilter either, I do have a cousin in Elko who would like it. Bonnie almost gave it to her instead of me, so I know it would be all right with her if I gave it to her.
You are very clever with your knitting, much better than I am, so when I saw you with your knitting last night, I wondered if you would use this stuff. It has two large tables, a machine, frames and a video on how to use it, plus some fabric Bonnie left.
I told Bonnie that she could have it when she comes back, but I don't think she will take it back.
Let me know if you want it and we will bring it over. Otherwise, if you just want to look at it before, come by sometime and I will show you it to you before you decide. You really need a room dedicated to quilting.
Love, Jesse
With all apologies to the cousin in Elko, she will never see the quilting machine. After responding instantly to Jesse that YES, I wanted the machine, I suggested that she should call Don and tell him so he could give it to me for Christmas. She did call him, and smart man that he is, he claimed the machine for me, and called me a few days later to tell me that I had a quilting machine in a pile of parts in the basement.
When I got home that night, the parts were assembled into a real quilting machine in as few minutes as possible, only to find that a major part was missing: one of the two carriages the machine sat on, making the whole thing useless. AGHHHHH! So close and yet so far away.
After two calls to HandiQuilter where I finally talked to the right person who assured me that yes, they did replace missing parts, resulted in the carriage sitting in my sewing room five days later. And, now I have a quilting machine. Imagine the possiblities! I can't wait to start quilting.
And why haven't I quilted yet? I have two trials this month, and if I set up the quilting machine, I will never be ready to argue in court. But just check back after the 24th and see how dreams really do come true.
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