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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
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.
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.
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What New Mexico’s New Bike Law Means for Everyone on the Road RETHINK THE RULES OF THE ROAD THIS SUMMER
bicycle crashes and 39 fatalities recorded between 2019 and 2023. Here’s how to ride smart and safe. Even with cyclist-friendly laws like Senate Bill 73 on the books, the streets are not always kind to people on two wheels. Bikers must still follow the rules of the road: signal when turning, ride with traffic, and be cautious of pedestrians. If the road feels too hectic, it is legal to hop onto the sidewalk, but always yield to foot traffic and ride with care. Also, do not trust the pavement. Roads are not always as smooth as they look. From potholes to slippery wooden bridges, hidden hazards can send even experienced riders tumbling. Stick to bike lanes and dedicated paths when you can, and always stay alert. Here’s another must-have: insurance. Many cyclists overlook this: Make sure you carry uninsured motorist coverage. If you are hit by a driver with no insurance (or worse, one who speeds off), this coverage can help pay for medical bills and bike repairs. We have
As National Bike Month rolls in, cyclists all over New Mexico are dusting off their helmets, pumping up their tires, and hitting the roads and trails. But before you ride off into that golden-hour glow, it is worth remembering that biking, while exhilarating and freeing, comes with serious responsibilities and risks. You can roll through stop signs? Big changes are coming for cyclists this summer. Starting July 1, New Mexico law will officially allow bike riders to treat stop signs as yield signs and red lights as stop signs. That means if the coast is clear, cyclists can continue through intersections without waiting for the light to turn green. This update, inspired by Idaho’s long-standing traffic law for cyclists, might seem dangerous, but the fact is it’s actually safer! Why? Because keeping momentum helps riders clear intersections faster and stay out of drivers’ blind spots. And it works. After Idaho passed a similar law, cyclist injuries dropped by nearly 15% . New Mexico hopes to follow suit, especially with over 1,400
seen far too many cyclists left stranded, physically and financially, after hit-and- runs or crashes with uninsured drivers. Share the road like lives depend on it (because they do) . If you are behind the wheel, keep your eyes peeled for bikes, especially near intersections and crosswalks. Yield when required, never underestimate a cyclist’s speed, and give them space when passing. Defensive driving is not just smart, it’s lifesaving. Injured while riding? We can help. At Parnall Law, we do more than just handle personal injury cases; we champion cyclists. Our team has in- depth experience representing cyclists in accident cases across New Mexico. Whether an accident involves road hazards, bicycle trails, reckless drivers, or insurance disputes, we are here to help you get the compensation and support you deserve. If your ride ends in injury, do not navigate the road to recovery alone. Contact us for a free consultation. We are here to help you get back on your bike and back on your feet.
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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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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
1
This Teacher Didn’t Just Teach History, She Made It Personal
2
The ‘Idaho Stop’ Is Coming to New Mexico
3
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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