It’s almost that time again. Time to cut into the turkey, pour the gravy over everything, and watch the postmeal games with our family. But do you know why we still celebrate Thanksgiving? Besides our early settlers, the man who made the holiday a true American classic was our 16th president. That’s right, Abraham Lincoln turned Thanksgiving into a federally recognized holiday. Here’s another tidbit you may not have learned about Honest Abe in history class: He filed for bankruptcy. In 1833, years before he became the leader of our country and made Thanksgiving a nationally celebrated tradition, Lincoln declared bankruptcy and spent the next 17 years paying off his debts. While Lincoln was skilled at many things, being a shopkeeper was not one of them. He and his partner took loans to grow their business, but after seeing that it wasn’t profitable, Lincoln sold his shares. Unfortunately, Lincoln’s business partner died and left him with the company’s debt. Lincoln filed for bankruptcy, but because of the laws of the
day, creditors were able to seize his only remaining assets — a horse and his survey equipment — and those were still not enough to cover the debt. He continued to pay it off even after being elected a state legislator. There’s a belief that people file for bankruptcy to escape making payments, but that’s not the reality of our laws. When someone declares bankruptcy, it’s because it’s absolutely impossible for them to pay back any money. Our Founding Fathers wrote many checks and balances into the constitution and made bankruptcy a last-resort option. Thankfully, they also recognized that we are human, and allowed for grace in the Constitution. There are plenty of stories like Lincoln’s that show even after going through bankruptcy, you can have a second chance. There is life after bankruptcy. Lincoln didn’t have the safety net of modern bankruptcy laws to protect his assets, but fortunately, we do. If you find that your financial life hasn’t gone according to plan, talk with an attorney at the Law Office of Jeffrey Kelly about your options. We’re here to help.
THE PRESIDENT WHO GAVE US THANKSGIVING AND
FILED FOR BANKRUPTCY
BRUSSELS SPROUTS WITH SAUSAGE
Looking for an easy, delicious Thanksgiving side dish? This gem requires only a few ingredients.
Ingredients •
2 tablespoons olive oil
•
1½ pounds Brussels sprouts
•
3.3 ounces fresh, hot Italian sausage
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½ cup water
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Salt and pepper
Directions 1. Trim sprouts and cut in half. 2. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add sausage and cook, stirring occasionally, 3–5 minutes. 3. Add sprouts to skillet. Add ½ cup
4. When sprouts are just about done, remove cover and raise heat to medium-high. Cook, stirring just once or twice, for a couple more minutes. The liquid should evaporate, and the sprouts should start to brown. 5. Add more salt and pepper to taste. Serve hot or warm.
water. Add salt and pepper. Cover and cook 10 minutes or until just tender. Check them periodically and add a bit more water, if necessary.
Recipe courtesy of InTheKitchenWithKath.com.
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