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BERT’S BUZZ MAY/JUNE 2025
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She Taught History, But Left a Legacy What a Ball of Yarn and a Jelly Bean Taught Me About Life
It has been a few years since Carol Lovato passed, but her voice and way of making history come alive still echo in my memory. On National Teacher Day, I think about her more than ever. She was my high school history teacher at Albuquerque High School, a school full of energy, challenges and character. And somehow, in that building, we had something rare. We had her. I had Mrs. Lovato for two years, U.S. History and World History. From day one, she stood out, not just for her passion for the subject, but for the way she brought humanity to it. I’ll never forget when she stood at the front of the room holding a ball of yarn and told one student at one corner of the classroom to hold the end. Then she walked that thread to the other side of the room and stretched it taut. “This,” she said, “is the timeline of the world.” She talked about the birth of the Earth, the age of dinosaurs, and the rise of the oceans. Then she pinched an inch of yarn at the very end. “This,” she said, “is human history. All of it. Everything we’ve done, and this is what we’re studying.” It stunned us. Suddenly, the French Revolution wasn’t just a chapter. It was a pinpoint on an impossibly vast thread, and we were standing somewhere along a tiny piece of it. This was a public school, Albuquerque High, where the hallways rang with voices of every type. My history class wasn’t “honors or advanced.” It was an assorted mix of students of all kinds, including some who tried to derail the lesson. I remember taking it upon myself occasionally to quiet the disruptors, not out of obligation, but out of deep respect for her. I didn’t want her brilliance dimmed by distraction.
She brought the past into the present with skillful ferocity. She once staged the Trial of Socrates in the school’s commons area. Students wore togas, argued like philosophers, and confronted questions of justice, truth, and duty. It wasn’t a spectacle, but instead, a dialogue between eras, pulled into the bodies of 16-year-olds who suddenly felt what it meant to think profoundly and defend ideas. Mock trial was another stage she built for us with unmatched enthusiasm. I was lucky enough to be on one of her teams, serving as both a witness and an attorney during my Junior and Senior years. The skills I learned there planted early seeds that would eventually grow into my legal career. After I graduated, she invited me to join her and the team as a mentor at the national championships in Portland, Oregon. I still have the photo album she made, filled with serious student courtroom poses, lightened by some shots of student silliness, such as spoons balanced on noses (including a snapshot of my younger self with a ponytail). That kind of gesture, thoughtful, creative, and personal, was simply who she was. Our connection didn’t end with high school. We exchanged letters during my college years. I remember one letter I sent, recounting a chaotic overnight motorcycle trip from Dallas to Houston. Her reply compared it to the Odyssey, turning my reckless journey into something mythical, almost poetic. That was one of her special gifts: to see life through a lens that elevated even the ordinary, that made each of us feel better about ourselves.
She once asked me to write an essay defending football because her son wanted to play, and she hated the sport. I titled it “Personal Proclamation: A Belief in Football,” and she showed me a copy many years later. That is the kind of teacher she was. Curious. Open-minded. Willing to understand another point of view even when it clashed with her own. Later in life, she became a client of mine, and we remained close until her death. She gave my firm a heartfelt testimonial and gifted me the first draft of her memoir, “Never Call Roll: My Life as a High School History Teacher.” I was honored to be one of seven people she first entrusted with it. Two of the others were her children. At her funeral, I shared one of her most powerful classroom lessons: the jelly bean story. She would place a jelly bean on every student’s desk and tell them it was magic.
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Our Firm’s New Office Is Almost Ready for Landing! Beam Us to Roswell!
Aliens, flying saucers, and one very stubborn piece of “foil” — Roswell has earned its place in the spotlight when it comes to the strange, the mysterious, and the out of this world. So, what better place for our law firm’s next office than in the heart of New Mexico’s most legendary town? May 3 marks National Paranormal Day, which feels like the perfect time to share some exciting news and honor a city that’s truly one of a kind. We’re thrilled to announce that our firm is opening a brand-new office in Roswell, New Mexico, a place where curiosity, community, and cosmic wonder come together like nowhere else. We recently purchased a house that’s being transformed into our newest office. It’s still in the works, but in the coming months, we’ll be ready to serve clients in Roswell and the surrounding areas. Until then, we thought it only fitting to celebrate the unique spirit of our new home base, one where history and mystery go hand in hand. Roswell has long captured the world’s imagination thanks to the 1947 UFO incident involving strange debris found on a nearby ranch. What began as a simple investigation quickly turned into one of the most talked-about events in American history. Some say it was a weather balloon. Others, including residents and visitors from around the globe, believe it was something more … an encounter not of this Earth.
Whether you’re a firm believer or just intrigued by the possibility, there’s no denying the enduring legacy this event has left behind. It’s a legacy that the city celebrates with plenty of passion, curiosity, and a great sense of fun. From the International UFO Museum and Research Center, home to a sizeable animatronic flying saucer, light shows, and the second-largest public UFO research library in the world ( the first being the Vatican … ), to the only space-themed McDonald’s on the planet, Roswell knows how to blend kitsch with community pride. Even the lamp posts along Main Street sport the iconic almond-shaped alien eyes that make you feel like you’re being watched (in the friendliest way possible). We’re honored to become a small part of Roswell’s vibrant story. As we finish preparing our new office, we look forward to joining a community that values history, imagination, and possibility. We’re here to offer dependable legal guidance, but we also know there’s something kind of magical about practicing law in a town where the extraordinary is part of everyday life. Stay tuned for more details on our Roswell office opening. And whether you’re a lifelong local or just passing through on a search for truth, we can’t wait to meet you. Happy National Paranormal Day, Roswell — keep looking up!
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College is supposed to be a time of growth, learning, and opportunity, but what happens when a student doesn’t have a place to sleep at night? In Los Angeles, a significant number of college students face housing insecurity, which can make earning a degree and achieving career goals very difficult. Often, students must choose between continuing their education or covering their basic needs, but the Dunamis House is stepping in to change that. The Reality of Student Homelessness When people think of homelessness, they rarely picture a young college student balancing coursework and multiple jobs. However, statistics show that housing insecurity is a major problem for today’s youth. The high cost of rent combined with a lack of financial resources put many at risk. Today, more than half of the 220,000 students enrolled across nine Los Angeles Community College District institutions are experiencing housing insecurity. Nearly 1 in 5 are homeless. Without support, these students can struggle in school and enter a cycle of poverty that is difficult to break. How the Dunamis House Is Making a Difference Led by the nonprofit Los Angeles Room & Board, the Dunamis House opened in 2023 in a historic building that once housed Japanese Americans working to rebuild their lives following World War II. Today, the group residential facility provides housing for 40 Los Angeles college students ages 18–24 at risk of homelessness. In addition to free, stable housing, Dunamis provides community support to help residents overcome challenges in school and life. Residents can access nutritious meals, tutoring services, and job training programs. Rather than providing short-term relief, the focus is on helping students become more self-sufficient to achieve long-term success. Los Angeles Room & Board allows residents to live at Dunamis for up to three years. Residents can then transition into one of the nonprofit’s other homes, where they can continue working toward their goals while paying subsidized rent. The housing, support, and stability provided by Dunamis and associated programs provide many with precisely what they need to finish their studies, secure stable employment, and break free from the cycle of poverty. The Dunamis House Turning the Tide on Student Homelessness
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If they ate it, they could become anything they wanted — rich, famous, powerful. But there was a catch: In exchange, you would forget your parents. Your childhood. Your grandfather’s war stories. Every memory that made you, you. She asked, “Would you eat it?” No one ever did. In that moment, every student realized the value of memory, of personal history. And in that silence, Mrs. Lovato taught one of the greatest lessons of all — that what makes us who we are is not what we have, but who we’ve loved, what we’ve survived, and what we remember. Carol Lovato was not just a teacher. She was a force. A guide. A keeper of stories and igniter of purpose. I would not be who I am without her. And I miss her. But I carry her lessons into every courtroom, every letter, every client meeting. Because she made history matter, and she made me want to be someone worth remembering. Everything I do today still holds a thread of that yarn she once stretched across the room. And the jelly bean on my desk top. —Bert Parnall
SIMPLE SUMMER GARDEN PASTA
Inspired by TheKitchn.com
This light, flavorful dish with juicy tomatoes, fresh basil, and Parmesan cheese is a fresh, satisfying weeknight meal.
Ingredients
• 4 cups cherry tomatoes, halved • 4 cloves garlic, minced • 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil • 1 tsp red pepper flakes (optional, to taste) • 1 tsp kosher salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper • 1 lb angel hair pasta • 1 cup fresh basil • 2 cups freshly grated Parmesan cheese • Cooked, chopped chicken for serving (optional)
Directions 1. In a large bowl, combine tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper and toss until well coated. 2. Cover and let the mixture sit at room temperature while the pasta cooks. 3. Add pasta to a pot of boiling water and cook per package directions until al dente. 4. Drain the pasta, reserving 1/4 cup of the pasta water to add to the tomato mixture. 5. Coarsely chop the basil leaves. 6. Add the pasta, Parmesan cheese, and chopped basil to the tomato mixture and toss again until combined. 7. Serving suggestion: Add cooked, chopped chicken for more protein!
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If you are a medical professional or a lawyer practicing in another area of law, we welcome you to refer your patients or clients. We know you want the best for your patients and clients, and so do we. Call us today at 505-268-6500 or visit HurtCallBert.com for more information on our services.
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
1
This Teacher Didn’t Just Teach History, She Made It Personal
2
Our Next Office Is Out of This World
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Simple Summer Garden Pasta
The Home Giving Students a Future
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Teen Dating Tips for Parents
TEEN DATING 101 A Parent’s Guide to First Crushes and First Dates
If you have a teenager starting to date, feeling apprehensive about this new milestone is natural. Dating can be nerve-wracking for parents and teens, but with the right approach, you can make the experience positive for everyone. Your role as a parent isn’t to control your child’s behavior but to guide them toward healthy, respectful relationships. Communicate with care and consistency. Open communication is key to positive parenting. When it comes to dating, start the conversation early and encourage honest, judgment- free discussion with your teen. Be careful not to turn conversations into interrogations. Open-ended questions such as, “What do you like about this person?” or “How do they make you feel?” support mutual conversations and can help your teen feel more comfortable confiding in you and seeking advice when needed. Teach about boundaries, balance, and building trust. Dating is much different now than even just 10 years ago, but many of the same boundaries apply. Laying out clear expectations related to dating curfews and respectful behavior helps your teen make safe,
smart choices. Encourage group dates and activities in public places before intimate or isolated dates. And don’t forget to talk about the impact of social media. Conversations about digital safety, including what is appropriate to share online, will help your teen avoid making decisions they may regret later. Recognize the difference between respect and red flags. Teach your teen to recognize the signs of respect — such as listening, compromise, and kindness — versus red flags, like controlling behavior and pressure. Help them understand that communication and mutual trust form the basis of all healthy relationships and that a dating partner should never make them feel uncomfortable or isolated from other friends. Also, remind them you are always available to provide support and guidance if they ever feel unsure about a relationship. Teen dating is a learning experience for all involved, and making a few mistakes is inevitable. The most important thing you can do is ensure your teen understands you’re there to support them as they build strong, meaningful relationships now and in the future.
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