Check out our October newsletter!
THE ORIGINS OF HALLOWEEN Ever since I found myself trick-or-treating with my children, I honestly felt that Halloween was just, well … weird. I don’t have any spiritual objection to it, but I will self-righteously proclaim that it’s most unhelpful to keep children out late on a school night for a holiday that’s nothing more than a free-for-all candy grab.
Rant over.
Samhain Becomes All Hallows’ Eve So, this year I got an impulse to find out exactly where this strange custom came from. I consulted the internet authority History.com and discovered that Halloween dates back to a long time ago in a faraway land. It started with an ancient people called the Celts. The Celts lived about 2,000 years ago in what’s now Ireland, the United Kingdom, and northern France. They held a festival called Samhain on Oct. 31, when they believed ghosts of the dead returned here. During the celebration, they wore costumes, usually animal heads and skins. Flash-forward to the 9th century, after the Celts converted to Christianity. Celtic and Christian traditions merged. Samhain became All Hallows’ Eve, the precursor to Halloween. The History of Trick-or-Treating This originated in Scotland and Ireland, where children engaged in a tradition called “guising.” They donned costumes and went from house to house for gifts. To get a “treat,” they performed a “trick.” Tricks were far more wholesome than the name suggests; they sang, recited a poem, told a joke or performed in some way. The treat was more wholesome, too, usually fruit, nuts, or coins. Halloween Comes to America Apparently, some form of Halloween existed in America from its colonial beginnings, but it was extremely limited in New England due to strict Puritan prohibitions. It was
more common down here. The holiday took off in the 1850s when immigrants from the Celtic homeland of Ireland flooded America. In true American capitalistic fashion, candy companies jumped all over it. Now, a quarter of all candy sold here gets bought for Halloween. Overall, Halloween is a $6 billion a year industry, making it the second largest commercial holiday after Christmas. Now that you’ve had your history lesson, you deserve a treat. When your children give you the stink-eye for taking the best candy from their jack-o’-lanterns, bore them into distraction with what you’ve just learned. Or just be brutally honest in real-world terms: It’s the mommy or daddy tax.
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IT’S WORLD TEACHERS’ DAY!
3 Ways to Show Gratitude
Write thank-you letters. If you had a teacher who impacted your life, or if your child has a favorite teacher, write them a thank-you note. Handwritten notes are more meaningful than ones you buy at the store. It shows you put in time and effort to create something specifically for them. You can write about a favorite memory you had with them or the ways they’ve inspired you. If you’re feeling extra generous, add a gift card to the note! A small message can go a long way in turning someone’s day around. Volunteer when you can. In addition to teaching in the classroom, teachers need to chaperone students during field trips, recess, lunch, and standardized tests. Contact your child’s school and see when they need volunteers to help with these activities. Teachers will greatly appreciate it because they will have a chance to take a break or organize their materials for the next class. Even if it’s just for the day or a few hours, teachers will appreciate the extra assistance. Teachers play a vital role in preparing our children for the real world. They teach them vital social skills and problem-solving strategies that will assist them as they age. So, let’s take some time to show appreciation for their dedication to our children.
Teachers have impacted you and your children’s lives in more ways than one. Maybe they inspired you to take a certain career path, always understood you,
or were there for you or your child when it was needed. Teachers have a demanding job, so in honor of World Teachers’ Day on Oct. 5, let’s take some time to appreciate them. Here are three ways to show your gratitude this month. Donate school supplies. Some teachers spend personal funds to purchase school supplies for their classrooms. This expense can become costly, especially if they provide for multiple students. Donate unused notebooks, pencils, pens, or other school supplies to a teacher. Some teachers even have wish lists available if you want to purchase new items for their classrooms. They will appreciate your kindness, and the children who need these supplies will also be grateful.
Testimonials
–Christan H. “Rob Usry and his entire staff were amazing through the entire time I had him until my case was finished. ALWAYS called me back the same day and normally within a few hours. I had such a long post written out, but the main thing is this: If you’re looking for a lawyer, then you’ve come to the right place. Hands down made this so much easier for me in such a hard time. Thank you all so much for being so great!”
www.bhollandlawfirm.com
THE CLIENT CALLS THE SHOTS Achieving a Settlement and Medical Bill Reduction
Per the recommendation of her good friend, Lisa Owens, a longtime team member at our firm, Tracey sought our help. Like too many people in our society, Tracey sustained injuries resulting from the negligence of a distracted driver who caused a car accident near Spartanburg. While Tracey was working as a driving instructor and teaching a new driver how to master a three-point turn on a clear road, a Chevy pickup came flying out of nowhere. As the truck roared up on Tracey, the driver was looking down at the floor and plowed into the rear end of Tracey’s car, breaking her right arm. The crash had devastating financial effects. It left her with a disabled arm, meaning she certainly couldn’t work as a driving instructor and was also unable to work her second job. To make matters worse, Tracey’s husband was also out of work, recovering from a serious cancer operation.
At the time, Tracey did not carry health insurance and didn’t qualify for workers’ compensation. She needed the best financial recovery she could get and fast — the bills were piling up! We got to work quickly, and less than three weeks after we got all her medical evidence, we sent a letter to the at-fault driver’s insurance company requesting settlement. Our “demand letter” was a five-page detailed summary of all she went through from the crash. It included all her medical evidence, lost wages, and an honest, thorough description of her pain and suffering. The biggest surprise and relief for Tracey came when we got her biggest medical bill dramatically reduced from nearly $24,000 (over 80% of her total medical bills) to $1,500. As for Tracey’s total settlement, we probably could have gotten more money if we’d held out and filed a lawsuit. But that wasn’t her goal. She didn’t need time; she needed money now to catch up on her bills. We focused on achieving what she wanted, not what we wanted. After all, Tracey’s the boss! I’m thankful we were able to get her family back on their feet with a $75,000 settlement. That’s why we feel so good about what we do!
Past outcomes don’t guarantee future results. Every case is different, and all cases depend on unique facts and laws.
Good News
Pumpkin Pie Parfaits
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” –Romans 15:13 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” –Matthew 5:3
Inspired by Kenarry.com
Ingredients
•
3.4 oz instant vanilla pudding mix
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg • 1/8 tsp ground cloves • 1 cup vanilla sandwich cookies • 8 oz whipped topping
• 2 cups cold milk • • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
15-oz can pumpkin purée
Directions 1. In a large bowl, whisk together pudding mix and milk. Let sit for 5 minutes, then stir in pumpkin purée, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ground cloves. 2. In a blender or food processor, crush vanilla sandwich cookies into crumbs. 3. In small jars or glasses, place cookie crumbs on bottom, then pumpkin mixture, then whipped topping. Repeat these layers twice and end with cookie crumbs. 4. Chill until ready to serve!
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* This newsletter is intended to educate the public about personal injury, workers’ compensation, criminal defense, and family law issues. You can copy and distribute it as long as you copy the entire newsletter. But the newsletter is not intended to be legal advice; you should ask a lawyer about your specific case. Every case is different, and all case outcomes depend on unique facts and laws.
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
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INSIDE this issue
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1.
The Origins of Halloween
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It’s World Teachers’ Day!
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Testimonial
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3.
Personal Injury Case Settled
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Pumpkin Pie Parfaits
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4.
Best Tailgating Hacks
If you no longer want to receive this newsletter, call Pam at 864.582.0416 or email Rob@bhollandlawfirm.com .
Take Your Tailgate to the Next Level
Get in the Game
One of the best parts of football season — other than watching your team dominate the scoreboards — is tailgating! It’s a great time filled with good food, drinks, and friends. The basics are easy to remember (condiments, trash bags, silverware, etc.), but sometimes the innovative and ingenious hacks are what bring the tailgate to a whole new level. Use a toolbox. You can find these in just about any home improvement store and turn them into a tailgating kit filled with all of the essentials. From can openers and spatulas to trash bags and sunscreen, a toolbox can hold everything and anything you may need for the best tailgating experience.
frozen bottles will keep your drinks and other refrigerated items cool for hours, and then by the end of the game, you will have fresh, cold water to drink. Set up a hand-washing station. This may be one of the most overlooked essentials in tailgating. Though some may settle for a simple hand sanitizer, if you’re cooking with raw meat and marinades, you’ll want to wash your hands with soap and water. Rather than waiting in long lines and missing tailgating time, you can have a “hand-washing station” nearby so you don’t miss out on the action! An empty laundry detergent dispenser or a cooler with a water spout can be filled with warm water for rinsing your hands — just have soap and paper towels on standby.
It’s also great for keeping everything in one place. You can even keep it in your car so you’re ready to tailgate at any moment. Freeze water bottles. Instead of having to constantly refill your coolers and spend money on bags of ice, you can actually freeze your water bottles. The
Try these tailgating hacks this coming football season — or any sporting season! Whether you’ve been showing up to the games for decades or you’re hosting your first tailgating event, these genius hacks will make your next game easy, fun, and one for the books.
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