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I want to thank all of you who participated in the recent summer social. I believe all who attended had a great time. I would encourage everyone to attend next year. The weather was beautiful, the company fabulous, and the food was awesome. Dennis Law again was kind enough to make homemade ice cream, and our multiple barbecue gods outdid themselves. It was just a few hours on a weekend, but it gave folks a chance to come together in a way which was relaxed and casual. I did not hear anyone discuss work, which was a plus.
I just returned from a family vacation on the East Coast, and that vacation prompted me to again consider the topic of civility. As with most families, in particular mine, when you get all of the siblings and your parents together, adding in children and spouses, there is a recipe for either a great time or a disaster. Our recent trip certainly was terrific, but there were moments teetering on the disastrous. I will not name any names or portray anyone as the ogre (except that I was not the ogre this time), but there were times when certain members of the family had to take a step back, leave the room, and consult cooler heads before expressing the “truth” about another’s actions. My husband was particularly helpful in helping me avoid a couple of “truthful moments” with a family member. This being said, Bob’s reminding me that I needed to keep a civil tone worked out quite well in the long run. The trip will not be remembered for any tumult or any disruption, and I expect we will undertake another family vacation next year or the year after.
Prior to the vacation, I found myself exhausted and with too many things on my desk which needed to be done prior to leaving. I found myself obsessing about certain deadlines and discovery issues. Finally, when I decided that I could not possibly get everything done, it dawned on me that I could reach out to other attorneys on my cases and ask that they allow me either an extension of a deadline or a continuance of a court date. One individual, who I will not name (but he knows who he is) was exceptionally gracious and suggested a method of handling my dilemma which had not occurred to me. I will not forget that courtesy and will certainly return the favor many times over. Another attorney (and she knows who she is) offered to appear for me on anything which came up in my absence. I did not request this of her; she was simply that gracious and thoughtful. With this said, it was lovely to reach out to folks who all, and I mean all, were responsive and kind in their response to my requests. If this were Los Angeles or elsewhere, it is my suspicion that my dilemma would have prompted other attorneys to take advantage of my situation. This legal community is very unusual and lucky to have such a collegial attitude. We fight when we need to, we work hard to get the best result for our clients, but we also, generally, leave our fights in the courtroom, where they belong. I feel very lucky to be a member of this legal community and again thank all of you who were so gracious to me. I will try to always treat you in the way you have treated me. It seems like a win/win situation for all concerned.
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