Futurelawyer

Memorial Day. When They Were Young.

I have always been curious about my natural father, who was killed in a plane crash in 1951 while stationed in New Mexico. He was an Army Air Corps pilot, and died at age 29. But, today, I found a photograph of his High School Band, in which he can be seen with a clarinet and going to Lee High School. I had always assumed he only played saxophone, since that was the only photo I had. Lee High School would have been my high school except that I was bused across town to the Catholic High School, Bishop Kenny. And, I also played the clarinet in the high school band. Further proof that fate is fickle, and we should revel in the gift of each day. I was only 5 when he died, so I have no independent memory of him, except from photographs. But, looking at this photo, I can't help but think of the Robin Williams' movie, Dead Poets Society, and the scene in which he brings his students to a hallway filled with photos of long dead students, when they were young, and prompts them to live each day as if it were their last. Every soldier who died in service deserves to be remembered today on Memorial Day; but more than that, to be remembered always. They were young, and never got beyond youth. Enjoy your holiday. But, of all holidays, this is one to be enjoyed with a somber grief. This is the one in which grief must combine with thanks. What more can one human give than their very life? Look at each young man in this photo of my dad's high school band. (he is second from the left, third row from the front).  Some of them died in the service of their country. Each of them had dreams of the future.

 

#PoetryFriday - Lover.

I have grown accustomed to your body

next to mine.

I imagine its curving skin,

touched by my hands,

gently.

I am alone in my bed,

tossing and turning,

reaching out

to touch you,

grasping at the image of you.

I speak to the image

and pretend the response.

I am a child

with a peanut-butter smile,

playing cowboys and indians

in a back yard

filled with monsters

and scary things.

I fear being alone,

and I am frightened to be near you.

I love wanting you,

and being wanted by you.

Do not be

away

very long.

#WhyIAmASolo - I Control The Flow Of People Asking Me For Help.

We are a species of Danas, and those seeking Dana's help. If you are a helper, your sanity requires that you control access to your abilities. Otherwise, you risk burn out, and an unhappy life. It's about freedom, grasshopper.

There Is No Such Thing As A Happy Memorial Day.

Each Of Us Has A Friend Or Family Member To Remember This Weekend.

There are some holidays that do not lend themselves to commercialization, or joyful celebration, or weekend sales, and so forth. The last Monday in May is one of them. I lost my dad during wartime, and, at 5 years old, have no specific memories of him. Of course, every day is a day to be lived happily. However, some days are days to remember sacrifice. Monday is, for many, just a day to stay home from work, or have fun at a picnic. For me, it is a day to remember the over Six Hundred Thousand men and women who have given their lives in the service of the United States of America. One particular person, my father, Martin M. Georges, Sr., gave his life while serving in the Army Air Corps in 1952. Take some time this weekend to honor him and our other heroes. I served, in a minor way; but do not honor me and other veterans this weekend. Honor those who gave the ultimate sacrifice.

#PoetryFriday - What Happens When We Die?

“Daddy, what will happen when you die?”
I had not contemplated death in a while.
Was the question answerable?
If we are honest with ourselves,
does it matter?
If we believe in God,
and He exists,
our death will be a journey to the divine.
If we don’t,
and we are right,
we will still journey,
but only to oblivion.
We can’t know,
of course.
We can only smell the flowers,
immerse ourselves in happy times,
do good deeds for others,
spend times with loved ones,
find a comforting bed to sleep in,
and a comforting lover to be with.
I considered the alternatives.
If an almighty Being cared about me,
in person,
one with the universe,
why would he cause me pain?
Why would he bring me the anguish
of death?
What is the reason
for disease?
What is the reason
for war?
Why does evil exist?
If there is no God,
what is my purpose?
Can a life without purpose
be worth living?

“It’s a mystery”,
I answered,
hoping that the lack of an answer
wouldn’t spark a lifetime
of fruitless searching for meaning,
a lifetime spending time wondering,
rather than spending time living,
in a young soul
that hadn’t yet lived.

#WhyIAmASolo - I Can Practice Mindfulness And Meditation Whenever I Want.

When I first was exposed to the concept of mindfulness as a strategy for dealing with the stress of law practice, I had visions of shaved heads and orange robes, and bizarre Eastern rituals. I was happily surprised to learn that it was much like the prayer I was taught to do in my youth. Prayer, however, is other directed, and aimed at saints and God and other concepts that I could never put my finger on. Mindfulness and meditation are inner directed, which I found to be much easier to wrap my mind around. To practice mindfulness, you merely need to slow down, and contemplate where you are in the present. It doesn't have to be formal or organized. I like to just sit, in times of stress, and think about where I am, and what I am doing, and I tell myself that, in this moment, nothing on earth, whether in the past or in the future, can touch me. I am in a place where no other can be. Try it. No rules. Just be. Of course, don't think about Rat. He will ruin everything. And, it helps not to have a boss. They don't like it when you make your own rules.

#TBT - Why I Am A Lawyer.

Where else do you get to take the work product of ordinary humans, and make it into a massive project? However, in defense of lawyers, we are expected to plan for, and protect clients from, every eventuality, which is an impossible task. We are lawyers, not soothsayers.

RV Lawyer - The Book

I am pleased to report that the RV lawyer book is with the editor and image placement department now, and, while it won't be out by next month's Florida Bar Convention, it will definitely be out this year. I have tried to cover just about everything a lawyer needs to know or learn in order to be a moving target; but, the book will just be a jumping off start for those of you who want to leverage the current tech to be able to get away from the office. Planes, trains, automobiles, RVs, boats or whatever mode of transportation gets you moving. There is no reason you can't be a lawyer wherever you happen to be. It is the ultimate freedom. No bosses. No desks in stuffy office buildings. Just set yourself free.

Reunion Redux.

I wrote this after one of my high school reunions a few years ago. We have shared marriages, death, sickness, happiness, joy and the rest of life's inevitable events at these rare gatherings, and the Internet has provided a central place to pray and care for each other. Shared age, shared goals, shared desire for joy and happiness, and a shared need for emotional support have been helpful to all of us. The shared human experience is augmented by our shared history. 

He sat at the table

looked around

and saw the images of his youth.

Each of the women

had been the subject of his inept fantasies

so many years ago.

He was awkward and unsure of himself then

and never asked them to dance.

His mind was elsewhere

and his face was always in a book.

He never went to the dances

or the parties.

He told himself

that he would be safe

with little human contact;

but, when he moved on to college

he had to learn those skills to get along.

He regretted that his adolescent self

missed sharing part of his life with them.

He looked around the table again.

He was happy that their radiant beauty remained

and the glow of their maturity

warmed him.

Their smiles reminded him of teenage passions

and long-lost loves.

He told them he loved them,

turned to the one he loved

and knew that his life

had meaning.

Ernie Svenson's Top Tech Tools For Remote Lawyering.

Law Firm Autopilot Top Tech Tools. Ernie Svenson is a resource that keeps on giving. I am giving a presentation at the Florida Bar Convention next month on emerging technology trends to help lawyers stay connected while working remotely, and this PDF guide is the natural corollary to the FutureLawyer's emphasis on computers and tech devices. I will be highlighting tools and methods to access the Internet and legal documents in the cloud. This PDF guide lists 13 applications and sites that help remote lawyers practice law and create systems that can guide remote practice. Thanks, Ernie, you just added an important set of slides to my presentation. Ernie also has some essential programs for lawyers who want an efficient, productive law practice. Check them out.