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April 2024
An Unbreakable Bond MY SISTER, MY BACKBONE
There’s nobody in this world quite like my sister. Andrea and I are 18 months apart and as she is my older sister, I don’t have any memories as a child that don’t include her. Sibling dynamics can be fascinating, particularly when a narrow age gap exists. However, when siblings have a wider age difference, it’s not uncommon for the elder to adopt a more parental role. In my family, there’s a nine-year gap between my eldest and youngest child. My daughter, Brooklyn, often steps into a quasi-parental role with her younger siblings, guiding and caring for them as if they were her own children. She faces a bit more rivalry with her sibling Elizabeth, who is five years her junior, marking a slightly different dynamic in their relationship. No matter how many years are between siblings, there’s still so much love. For Andrea and me, because we have always been so close in age, it has always been a bit of a competition. Kids compete for the affection of their parents (not that they have to, but in children’s minds, they do), status in the social universe of children, to be the best athlete, or to be the most attractive. There are some fights — that’s just the nature of it — and it was no different for my sister and me. But, most importantly, there has always been a tremendous amount of love between us. As a child in kindergarten living in Buffalo, New York, I had my share of tussles with a neighborhood boy. On one occasion, he and his older brother managed to pin me down. That’s when my older sister, furious, came charging out of our house and football-tackled the
boy who was on top of me. My aunt had to intervene, picking my sister up by the collar with her limbs wildly thrashing about. She was fiercely protective and wouldn’t stand for anyone harming her little brother. Despite her ferocious defense, it wasn’t long before we found ourselves back in the throes of sibling rivalry, squabbling over the next thing. In her mind, I was hers, and only she could mess with me. Now, we each have our own children and families and are best friends. We talk all the time, and our family visits her in St. Augustine, Florida, every July. At Christmas time, she comes to spend weeks at our home. Now, we have outgrown the childish competition and support and praise each other. When I was going through a hard time and lost virtually everything, she got her checkbook out and took care of it. Likewise, when she went through a rough patch, she and her husband came to stay with us for a bit. Family is the most important thing we have in this life. You can’t leave your siblings — we are stuck together. Not all siblings get along as well as we do, but having someone there who knows you as well as your brother or sister is priceless. Our relationship has withstood the test of everything — and that’s unlike any other love out there. The depth of care and understanding we share now far surpasses anything I could have envisioned during those youthful days filled with squabbles with my older sister, who once drove me bonkers. It’s my hope that our children will foster a similar bond, rich in love and support for one another. On National Sibling Day, celebrated on April 10 (and every day of the year, really), I encourage everyone to acknowledge the special bond you have with your siblings. Your brother or sister was the first person you likely told secrets to, got in fights with, or bonded with over the collective punishment from your parents. No matter how successful you are in life, your sibling is the only one who can still embarrass you about something that happened 20 years ago, and there’s just nothing like this special bond. Be a good brother, be a good sister, and embrace that bond. As we get older and situations change, relationships come and go, and careers change; your siblings will still be some of the only people you can rely on. There’s something special to be said about that unconditional love and support. For me, one person I know of would run out of the house like their hair is on fire to tackle any threat that comes my way — and that’s Andrea, my sister!
www.AttorneyRobertJames.com | 1 –Robert D. James
Andrea “Buffy” Plowden, sister, with Robert
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WHEN THE LAW MEETS ABSURDITY LEGALLY UNBELIEVABLE
Virginia, Washington, D.C., or on a military base, it’s entirely legal!
There are some outlandish laws in the U.S., but you can also get away with plenty of surprising things. Let’s dive into some of the crazy laws from around the country. Surprisingly Legal Flame On Owning a flamethrower is surprisingly legal and easy in 48 states. The only state where you can’t own one is Maryland. And if you want a flamethrower in California, you must get a license. The rest of the states say, fire away! Car Radar Another surprising law concerns radar detectors: In most states, utilizing a radar detector in your personal vehicle is completely legal. Do you want to check someone’s speed or look out for police officers? Unless you live in Mississippi,
Sleepy Surgery There are absolutely no laws that state surgeons must get a good night’s sleep before surgery. As dangerous as this sounds, at least surgeons usually do have a limit on how long they can work at once, curtailing the worst outcomes of an exhausted doctor.
Blindingly Obvious Driving blindfolded has never been a good idea, but that clearly didn’t stop adventurous residents in Alabama from testing their blind driving skills. Maybe that’s why the state passed a law making blindfolded driving illegal. Keep an open ear and be mindful of what is legal and what is not. Nobody wants weird laws creating dumb criminals!
Shockingly Illegal Car Cursing
While in Maryland, you should be mindful of keeping your swear words to yourself (or whisper them softly) while driving through the small city of Rockville. It is considered a misdemeanor to swear from a vehicle within earshot of other people. Your curse words could cost you up to $100 in fines or 90 days in jail.
Joke’s on You!
THE HISTORY OF APRIL FOOLS’ DAY
These pranks included having paper fish placed on their backs and being referred to as “poisson d’avril” (April fish), said to symbolize a young, easily caught fish or a gullible person. Historians have also linked April Fools’ Day to festivals such as Hilaria (Latin for joyful), which was celebrated in ancient Rome at the end of March by followers of the cult of Cybele. It involved people dressing up in disguises and mocking fellow citizens and magistrates and was said to be inspired by the Egyptian legend of Isis, Osiris, and Seth. There’s also speculation that April Fools’ Day was tied to the vernal equinox, or the first day of spring in the Northern Hemisphere, when Mother Nature fooled people with changing, unpredictable weather. Regardless of its origin, April Fools’ Day has become a worldwide tradition with links from the past. Today, April Fools’ Day means playing pranks and tricks on friends and family. People have gone to great lengths to create elaborate April Fools’ Day hoaxes. Newspapers, radio and TV stations, and websites have participated in the April 1 tradition of reporting outrageous fictional claims to fool their audiences.
Have you ever wondered why we celebrate April Fools’ Day every April 1 with silly pranks and whimsical tricks? April Fools’ originated in France during the 16th century when the country switched from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar. The change moved the new year from the end of March to Jan. 1. The shocking part is that not everyone was aware of the change. Those who continued celebrating New Year’s Day on April 1 were mocked, labeled as “April Fools,” and subjected to pranks.
So, when someone pulls a nasty prank on you on April Fools’ Day, remember why and where it came from!
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TAKE A BREAK
To be proactive in life is to be successful! As a parent, planning ahead must become second nature if we want our children and families to stay strong in the face of adversity. While many good parenting tips are out there, the smartest is creating an emergency kit to help out in any scenario. An emergency kit will have everything you and your family may need during an emergency, such as having to stay inside for longer than usual or the electricity goes out. Each family’s kit will vary depending on their kids’ individual needs. It’s vital to have all these things collected before the trouble begins, stored in a container, and kept in a safe and easily accessible location in case of an emergency. Making a family emergency kit can also be fun for the family to do together. Be the Parents Who Are Prepared CREATING AN EMERGENCY KIT FOR ANY SITUATION
These are the necessary steps to create a toolkit:
1. You will need a large plastic bin or box to put things into.
2. Go to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website for a list of key items to include in a kit: CDC.gov/childrenindisasters/checklists/ kids-and-families.html. 3. Go shopping for the appropriate items you need, then check them off the list as you put them into your emergency kit. 4. Place an updated copy of your checklist inside your large plastic bin or box once you put your kit together to know what is inside the kit and to find your checklist easily. Keeping your family safe should be a top priority at all times. It is so important to teach preparation skills to our children at a young age so they can be ready and thrive through life’s most turbulent moments.
Grilled Steak With Chimichurri Sauce
Savor the flavor with our mouthwatering grilled steak, paired perfectly with vibrant chimichurri sauce. Ingredients
For the chimichurri sauce: • 1 cup fresh parsley, chopped • 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 lbs steak
(flank, sirloin, or skirt steak)
• 2 tbsp olive oil • Salt and pepper, to taste
• Juice of 1 lemon • 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp red pepper flakes • Salt and pepper, to taste
Directions 1. Preheat grill to medium-high heat. 2. Rub the steak with the olive oil, salt, and pepper. 3. Grill the steak for 4–5 minutes per side or until it reaches desired doneness. 4. Meanwhile, make the chimichurri sauce: In a small bowl, mix together the parsley, garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, red pepper flakes, and salt and pepper. 5. Let the steak rest for 5 minutes before slicing. 6. Serve the steak with the chimichurri sauce and enjoy!
www.AttorneyRobertJames.com | 3
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404.891.0977 www.AttorneyRobertJames.com 233 Peachtree St. NE Suite 1200 Atlanta, GA 30303
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
1 2
Siblings — A Bond Like No Other
Surprisingly Legal and Shockingly Illegal
The Origin of the Silliest Day of the Year
3
Grilled Steak With Chimichurri Sauce
Equip Your Family With an Emergency Kit
The Lawsuit That Touched Hearts
4
Luke Combs Strikes a Chord FROM CONFLICT TO COMPASSION
containing funds from recent sales, was locked due to the lawsuit, leaving her in a dire financial situation. What sets this story apart is not the initial legal dispute; it’s the remarkable response from Combs himself. Upon learning of Harness’s situation, he recorded a heartfelt TikTok video where he apologized directly to Harness and extended his hand to help her during this challenging time. He gave her $11,000, twice the amount that had become inaccessible in her Amazon account due to the lawsuit. He emphasized that no fan should ever go through such an ordeal and expressed his sincere regret for the situation. Combs didn’t stop there; he decided to positively impact Harness’s life by selling similar tumblers on his own website. All proceeds from these sales were directed
Imagine waking up one December morning to the bizarre news that one of your favorite celebrities is suing you for a whopping $250,000. That’s what happened to Florida resident Nicol Harness, a devoted fan of country music sensation Luke Combs. The story began when Harness found herself in hot water for selling unofficial merchandise adorned with lyrics from Luke Combs’ songs. She had sold 18 tumblers at $20 each and had no clue this would lead to a legal battle that would wreak havoc on her life. Harness, who had been dealing with congestive heart failure, received an email from Combs’ legal team during her hospital stay. Unfortunately, due to her medical condition, she missed the 21-day response window, which resulted in further complications. Her Amazon account,
Photo by David Bergman
toward Harness’s family to support her medical care, further showcasing Combs’ commitment to making amends and righting the situation. This incredible turn of events reminds us that even in the face of legal battles and adversity, acts of kindness and empathy can prevail. Combs, a country music superstar, proved in words and actions that he values his fans, turning a potential lawsuit into a story of compassion and unity in the country music community.
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