JULY 317-636-7777
LAW
2020 www.sevenishlaw.com
Fierce Protectors of the Injured
A TRIBUTE TO MY ATHLETIC COACHES And the Power of Eliminating Failure From Your Radar
Hello, friends. I hope this newsletter finds you all well and gives a brief reprieve from the terrible news we are hearing lately all over the country. These isolating, daunting times make me incredibly grateful for the people in my life who supported and mentored me to success — many of whom were my parents, high school coaches, and college coaches. We don’t always realize how important our mentors are when we’re first learning under them; perhaps the greatest proof comes later in life. When my parents dropped me off at college in Bowling Green, Kentucky, it was actually at a football training camp for Western Kentucky University. After I excelled in athletics in high school, WKU coaches invited me to attend a training camp as a “walk-on,” but they were indecisive about whether they would offer me an athletic scholarship there. My parents were particularly critical about my decision to attend because, well, I had turned down full-ride scholarships to universities near our hometown in NW Ohio and even from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. Instead, I opted to risk it and preferred to go to this football camp with nothing guaranteed as a “walk- on.” At the time, it is where I wanted to be. Before my parents left to drive home, I said my farewells: “Well, guys, I’ll see you at Christmas.” They looked at me warily while my mother cried. “Randy, you don’t have an offer yet. We might be seeing you in a few weeks.” I remember looking at them with a confused look. Huh?
Looking back, I think, why the heck was my 18-year-old self so convinced I would get a scholarship offer? It is because that was on my radar screen and the full subject of my focus. My parents were right to worry. I was 5 feet, 10 inches and 180 pounds and considered scrawny for college football (even the coaches implied so). However, I was very, very fast, which made them consider me. And although I was aware of these hurdles, somehow, I don’t recall feeling threatened by them. I assured them while smiling, “Mom, Dad, I’ll see you at Christmas. You’ll see.” I don’t think I would’ve had that confidence without my parents and high school and college mentors who taught me how to push myself to my physical limits, as well as about sportsmanship, collegiality, comradery — and, most of all, leadership. Little did they know at the time, but my parents and my mentor coaches instilled in me the discipline and confidence I needed to have “no fear,” and that lack of fear carried me into football camp. For years, I never had a break for myself. I played and excelled in football, track, baseball, and wrestling and was blessed with the guidance of Coach Jackson, Coach Weber, Coach Long, and others. This was year-round and nonstop for me. As such, I was captain of three varsity sports, named “all- league” and “all-state” in football and track, and was inducted into the RHS Athletic Hall of Fame a few years after graduation. All of this was due to getting the proper guidance and mentoring from my mom, dad, grandparents, and my caring and wonderful coaches. They taught and mentored, and I listened and applied what I was taught and learned early on the magic of consciously placing importance matters “on my radar screen.”
That is just my example of the impact of amazing parents and coaches: You still feel empowered through being pushed to your absolute best, even if you fail. Failure stops being on your mind, or even visible on your radar, because it’s really not the worst that could happen; worse yet, you could pass up a great opportunity for personal growth. When we fail, and we all will, the key is to learn from that failure by keeping that option off of your radar screen. Given the extraordinary background I have been so blessed with by the Lord Himself, I knew I could overcome the adversity of coming from a very economically poor family who had no means to put me through college, so I had to figure it out for myself, which I did and continue to do each and every day of my life. With enough training and preparation, I knew I could overcome the worst-case scenarios of the highly competitive and physical football training camp of the Western Kentucky University Hilltoppers. And a few weeks into it, I did. I got a full-ride scholarship offer that renewed annually based on performance (given my size). It was a constant challenge, but I got to play with guys who are still involved in the NFL today, such as Romeo Crennell (currently Defensive Coordinator, Houston Texans). Thank you, Mom, Dad, and coaches for caring and believing in me. You helped me imagine a future where failure is not an option, and I would not have thought it possible without you.
–Randall “Randy” Sevenish
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THIS JULY, INDIANA HAS A NEW HANDS-FREE LAW! Stay Safe and Don’t Get Ticketed While driving on a seemingly empty road at 55 miles per hour, you may assume it’s safe to search for a song on your phone. But did you know that being distracted for five seconds at a time while driving is like driving through a football field blindfolded? You never know what’s going to change on the road ahead, even if it looks safe. That’s why Indiana has passed a hands-free law for drivers starting July 1, 2020. It will require drivers to put smartphones and other devices down in order to prevent statistically-proven increases in crashes and deaths caused by distracted driving. You might be already aware of the “do not text while driving” law passed in 2011, but many officials have found it unenforceable because it’s “too narrowly tailored,” according to the Indiana government website. Most of all, the law has proven to work: According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, traffic deaths have decreased nearly 20% in states that have passed hands-free driving laws. What does hands-free mean? It means you can’t use your phone if it’s in your hand. Although you can still use your GPS such as Apple Maps or Google Maps, you can’t operate it in your palm. You’re still free to use Bluetooth, a headset, or any other hands-free technology to navigate your device. The consequences of breaking the law include a fine, and starting July 1, 2021, the Indiana BMV will add points to law breakers’ records. Keep yourself, your loved ones, and your community safe. Put down your phone when you’re behind the wheel. The Sevenish Law Firm thanks you for your awareness on the road!
A MEAL FOR EVERY MEMBER OF THE FAMILY Meals onWheels Goes the Extra Mile Meals on Wheels doesn’t often get the credit it deserves. The international nonprofit ensures those who are unable to buy or make their own meals get the food they need to survive. Of course, for many recipients, the efforts of the organization go far beyond “survival.” For those who receive food daily or weekly, those deliveries may be their only source of social interaction. And during times of social distancing, the program became more important than ever.
Meals on Wheels doesn’t just serve meals to the elderly and people with disabilities — it also serves those people’s pets. In 2019, Meals on Wheels Atlanta realized there was a huge need in their community to feed the pets of senior citizens. It stands to reason that if an elderly individual is unable to shop or cook for themselves, their pets may be in a similar predicament. And when someone’s pet is their entire world, making sure the animal is fed and healthy means everything.
In response to this need, Meals on Wheels Atlanta began stocking up on cat and dog food, creating their own pantry to serve the local pet community. When volunteers made their rounds delivering meals to seniors, they made sure to bring cat and dog food along too. One volunteer with Meals on Wheels Atlanta, Larry Auberbach, had a unique experience delivering meals to Jeffery Jones and his dog, Grizzly. The volunteer told 11Alive News in Atlanta that Jeffery and Grizzly “have their own special relationship.” Larry loved Grizzly long before Meals on Wheels Atlanta started the pet pantry because he saw how much Grizzly’s companionship meant to Jeffery. Now, Larry enjoys his service that much more since he gets to provide for Jeffery’s beloved pet, as well. On top of delivering food to seniors and their pets, Meals on Wheels Atlanta also delivers pet toys and pet beds, and they are happy to take in any pet-related food or items for donation. The organization says this endeavor was done out of love, not only for the people they serve but also for the whole family — wagging tails, fuzzy whiskers, and all.
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3 ACTIVITIES TO KEEP YOUR KIDS BUSY IN THE CAR So You Can Keep Your Eyes on the Road
Your family might not be taking many road trips this summer, but keeping your kiddos occupied even on short trips in the car can sometimes feel impossible. Few vehicles have built-in entertainment systems, and truth be told, using a smartphone or iPad to address your kids’ boredom and antics might not be the best option, especially if you’re trying to cut down on their screen time. Fortunately, some of the activities that keep kids occupied on long road trips also work for quick trips around town. Before you reach for the nearest screen to keep your kids from picking on one another or finding unsafe ways of entertaining themselves, try some of these constructive car activities. Road Trip Bingo This is a tried-and-true, classic car game that still entertains kids today. You can easily make your own bingo boards with squares to mark off for road signs, construction vehicles, and other roadside sights. Plus, this activity helps kids hone their observation skills. Having some treats ready as a prize for the first kid to get a bingo will ensure everyone wants to play along! Dry-Erase Art Having art supplies in the car might keep your kids busy, but it can also mean dozens of crayons and colored pencils getting lost between the seat cushions. Instead, keep dry-erase boards and markers on hand for a safe art project without the clutter and mess. Plus, old plastic CD cases work as dry-erase boards!
Toy and Book Box When the games and art projects don’t work, a box of picture books, toy cars, dolls, and other toys might prove to be the best defense against your kids’ boredom. While this fix might seem too easy, sometimes the simplest ideas work the best. Instead of having your kids play the quiet game the next time they’re acting up in the back, try some of these ideas to keep them entertained so you can keep your eyes safely on the road.
Brain WORK!
CAESAR FIREWORKS GRILLING INDEPENDENCE LARKSPUR PEACHES PICNIC POPSICLES RUBY SPARKLER SUNGLASSES SWIMMING
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Inside THIS ISSUE The Power of Eliminating Failure From Your Radar Page 1 How Meals on Wheels Atlanta Stepped Up for Its Community This July, Indiana Has a NEW Hands-Free Law! Page 2 3 Fun Car Activities to Keep Your Kids Busy Page 3 The Wacky Evolution of the Knock-Knock Joke Page 4
KNOCK KNOCK! WHO’S THERE?
The Wacky Evolution of the Knock – Knock Joke
Knock knock! Who’s there? Theresa.
Theresa who? Theresa crowd!
Not very funny, is it? Well, over the years this style of back-and-forth jesting evolved into knock-knock jokes. The popularity of the “knock knock” bit of the joke could harken back to Shakespeare, who BestLife credits with “the first-known occurrence of a knock knock, who’s-there dialogue” in Act 2 of “Macbeth” (though it likely wasn’t intended to be funny), or it could be a reference to 1936 vice presidential hopeful Frank Knox, whose name made “knock knock” irresistible wordplay for the radio. Whatever the reason, knock knocks were all the rage in the 1930s, to the extent that people formed knock-knock clubs, businesses held knock- knock contests, and orchestras set them to music. However, the heyday was short-lived. In the following years, people started getting sick of knock knocks, and even psychologists turned against them. According to NPR, “people who loved knock-knock jokes were said to have social problems.” Today, knock-knock jokes are still around, but they’re mostly considered a game for kids or demoted to the realm of “bad dad jokes.” Maybe you think that’s warranted, maybe you think it’s tragic — either way, odds are the format will continue to evolve and probably outlive us all!
Unless you’re living under a rock, odds are you’ve laughed, grumbled, or groaned in response to a knock-knock joke. You may have even told a few yourself before you realized knock-knock jokes had gone out of style in favor of sarcasm and memes. That’s because at their core, knock- knock jokes are a quintessential American experience — and the perfect homegrown fodder for International Joke Day, which falls on July 1. But where did they come from, and why do so many people knock the knock- knock joke today? Well, according to NPR, knock-knock jokes have had a roller coaster of a history. Near as we can tell, they actually evolved from another kind of joke: the “Do You Know” joke. This style of joke was popular in the early 1900s, and according to an Oakland Tribune article NPR dug up, this was a typical one: Do you know Arthur? Arthur who? Arthurmometer!
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