I am almost hesitant to note aloud that we have finally reached the final Tuesday of what feels like the longest Leap Year in the annals of recorded history for fear of New Year's Eve morphing into Groundhog Day, the ball never dropping in Times Square at midnight, and 2020 continuing for an indeterminate amount of time.
Almost.
I find my courage in the fact that today is the birthday of one of my favorite lawyers, my niece Simone. She is the second lawyer in the family. To maintain geographical balance, we have positioned ourselves on opposite coasts. One of my favorite events of this year was watching via Zoom as Simone was sworn in as a member of the California Bar, which she was this June.
As luck would have it, she took her oath as a member of the Bar on June 2, 2020, which was the eleventh anniversary of the death of Margaret's mom, the late, great Suzy B. Margaret and I watched Simone's swearing-in together. By ceremony's end, Margaret had a tear in her eye and a smile on her face. Each there, I believe, because of her appreciation of this date finally being reclaimed, at least in part, by a good thing. It is nice to have something positive to which my wife can associate June 2nd. Thanks to Simone, she can.
As for me, I am hopeful that the image of Simone toasting her swearing-in by raising a glass of Jameson's never leaves my mind's eye. I have been at this "practice of law" thing for almost three decades. It is nice to know and to love someone whose journey in this profession is in its nascency. Her enthusiasm is contagious. It stands for the proposition that while you might not be able to teach an old dog a new trick, if you energize him enough you might just be able to rekindle his enthusiasm for an old one or two that he really loved.
Happy Birthday, Counselor, and thank you. In a year where things in which to believe often were in short supply, you provided me with a very important and most welcome one. Next time I see you, the first round of Jameson's is on me.
Keep wishing big.
After all, it is the only worthwhile way to wish.
-AK
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