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Lee Law News
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August 2021
Hello, Lee Law Family! I recently noticed that the third week of August (starting on the 16th) is Friendship Week. It made me think about my Uncle Sonny, who we lost in February last year. The thing about my Uncle Sonny is that he wasn’t actually my uncle by blood — he was one of my mother’s best friend since childhood. Actually, both of my parents had close friendships with individuals who were more than friends, but intentional chosen family members. As a kid, I grew up calling these individuals my aunts and uncles and their kids my cousins. Family is more than blood, often family is who you make it. Blood couldn’t have made any of these relationships closer. I grew to appreciate my parents’ constant effort in spending time with their best friends, because it led to so many amazing memories. I remember trips to my Aunt Connie and Uncle Sonny’s house that would often lead to fun sleepovers and movie nights as a kid. Sometimes before we’d drive to their house, my mom would say, “Get dressed in your pajamas — I’m leaving you there if you fall asleep!” Of course, we’d always plan to “fall asleep” so that we could spend more time with our cousins. What we didn’t know then was that this was the building blocks of traditions and a legacy. Although my parents are no longer with us, and we’ve also lost Aunt Connie and Uncle Sonny, what they left behind wasn’t only a legacy of their kindness and friendship to each other, but they also left behind a deeply connected family that my sister and I will cherish forever. We keep this family tradition going by making a point to show up and spend time together with our extended family. We plan dinners and outings to ensure we keep our relationships strong. We are also elated that we still have other friendship aunties and uncles “What [my parents and their best friends] left behind wasn’t only a legacy of their kindness and friendship to each other, but also they left behind a deeply connected family that my sister and I will cherish forever.” A Tribute to Life- Changing Friends
to rely on for wisdom, advise, and love: Aunt Alma, Uncle Harold, Aunt Rosemary, Uncle Bob, Aunt Dotson, and Auntie Queen, to name a few. If there’s anything I’ve learned about friendships as an adult, it’s this: You have to be intentional about spending time with people, or it just doesn’t happen. Life is incredibly distracting. Some friendships can be circumstantial, but, after so many of us have been socially distanced, many of us have lost the circumstances that we would meet our friends. Don’t be afraid to be intentional — reach out, maybe try to see people in person again. It just might brighten their whole month. Whenever I’m with our cousins, I feel like some of my parents’ spirit and legacy lives on within our lives — I can only hope I’m doing it half as well as my mom did. My mother was naturally fantastic at making people feel special. She was one of those people that always had a lot of people in her life, because she knew how to connect with anyone on the street. It was simply in her nature to care about others. If she knew you were having a rough day, she called to check on you, because that’s who she was. At Lee Law, I always keep her welcoming, kind, loving spirit in mind. I like to think that our unique personal dynamic with our clients is one aspect that sets us apart — and it’s that same dynamic that inspires me to work harder for them. As one of my favorite Girl Scout songs says, “make new friends, but keep the old, one is silver and the other gold.” Whether with an old friend or a new one, I hope you spend a little time with some good company this late summer and early fall.
–Melanie Lee
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Have Celebrity Divorces Always Been Crazy?
That was certainly the case with O.J. Simpson’s breakup with his wife, which didn’t get half the headlines her murder would (and the “trial of the century” that followed) two years later. You could argue, though, that we’re getting better. When we look at the roots of the “celebrity divorce” phenomenon, it goes back in time to the realm of myth. The gods of Greece and Rome were always leaving each other and getting back together, a clear indication of the drama that interested our ancestors. But the most famous celebrity divorce of the pre-19th century (and perhaps of all time) was Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn. It had all the hallmarks of modern public breakups: People took one side or the other, with other parties still “shipping” Henry and his first wife, Catherine of Aragon. Henry and Catherine’s divorce led to the trauma of war across England and Europe. Like today’s celebrity cases, it didn’t last long. Anne was executed a few short years later when someone new caught the king’s eye. Henry VIII was the archetype of the modern Hollywood actor with the wandering gaze, and Catherine and Anne typified the women willing to give him “one more chance.” Seeing how that ended, perhaps we should be grateful that things today are aired out in the media — instead of on the battlefield!
What is it about celebrity marriages — and their subsequent endings — that fascinates society? Depending on how you measure, telling the stories of makeups and breakups is a multibillion-dollar industry for media organizations online, in print, and on TV. Are we really that hungry for nasty headlines? Or is something deeper going on in the human psyche?
In the last 12 months, we’ve seen some of the worst marriage breakups in Hollywood history, but Amber Heard and Johnny
Depp’s libel suit took center stage. As usual, “Whom do you believe?” was the question of the day, but it became obvious that both parties needed a therapist to work though serious emotional problems but tried unsuccessfully to do it on their own, instead. Perhaps the most disturbing element in the Heard/Depp trial was the violence that seemed to pervade their daily lives. But that’s nothing new; in fact, the violent behavior of both partners is likely what drew so much attention in the first place.
Are you excited to explore the world again? Or maybe you’ve just gotten back from your latest vacation! In either case, the economic challenges of the pandemic might require travelers to plan their trips a little smarter. Here are five tricks to do just that. 1. Consider your budget while choosing your destination. Any destination heavily impacted by tourists is going to be more expensive to visit. So, consider taking a tour through various French countryside towns instead of Paris! Not only could it be more culturally immersing, but it may even be more relaxing and less stressful than visiting a dense area. 5 Tips for Your Next Affordable Getaway 2. Sign up for Scott’s Cheap Flights. One of the most important parts of booking an affordable vacation is booking it at the right time. Scott’s Cheap Flights will track all the cheapest flights at an airport of your choice — you’ll get over 50%–75% savings on highly rated airlines. This will get you stress-free travel for a much lower price! 3. Travel in a group. If you travel with friends, your expenses become a lot more manageable. Let’s say you and a partner travel with two other couples — renting a swanky cabin at $200 a night will only cost around $33 per person. Plus, you will create some amazing memories together!
4. Plan your meal budget ahead of time. Looking forward to eating certain dishes? Find local menus and prices to ensure you don’t spend more than you planned. If you want an authentic and homestyle culinary experience, consider signing up for a peer-to-peer dining experience through Traveling Spoon or Bon Appetour, which is tax-free as well! 5. Consider volunteering for vacation. Want to go on a self-discovery trip? Why not cut your expenses in half by volunteering? For example, Habitat for Humanity offers a nine-day Mexico trip for $1,200 with lodging, food, and activities included. You’ll get to build structures and create something permanent for the local community.
Traveling on a dime is no sweat with the right tools. Best of luck, traveler!
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TAKE A BREAK
Earlier this year, Russia announced it would abandon its missions to the International Space Station in favor of a new, Russia-only station orbiting Earth. At the same time, China has begun working in earnest on its own permanent space installation, raining construction debris down on coastal Africa and other places. With private American interests gaining traction in orbit (and the confidence of our government), things are getting awfully crowded up there — and not by actors that typically play well together. ARE WE HEADED FOR THE FIRST WAR IN SPACE? ‘SPACE LAW’
All of which begs the question: Will the 21st century see the first violent conflict in space?
TOMATO AND WATERMELON SALAD (YES, REALLY!)
We have to delve into “space law” (yes, it’s really called that) to understand this question. It started in the 1940s and ‘50s, when the USSR launch of Sputnik signaled a new ground for scientific competition in the Cold War, as well as fears of more direct, armed conflict. The landmark “Outer Space Treaty’’ of 1967 was the response, and nations continued to deal with space concerns until the end of the century. The general principles were those of cooperation and goodwill, and that made sense in the 20th century, when it was unlikely any power would be able to seriously colonize stations in orbit or the moon itself, nevermind other planets. But in the past 20 years, many countries have been unwilling to seriously commit to more specific agreements or laws. When you see the rapidly increasing presence many countries are seeking in orbit, you start to understand why. Nobody wants to hamstring themselves and compromise their interests when the resources of our solar system are made available through technology. Even though this may be a new arena, the problem is an old one. International Law — of which “space law” is a subset — is not typically enforceable and never has been. Private ventures, like those of Elon Musk, may face crackdown by their governments or the international community. But nations themselves will take what they want, when they want it — and right now, that could make peace on the final frontier a long shot in the 21st century.
Inspired by BonAppetit.com.
Bon Appétit magazine calls tomato and watermelon “soul mates,” and they’re right! This surprising gourmet salad will be a hit at your next barbecue.
Ingredients
• 4 cups seedless watermelon, rind removed and cut into 1/2-inch cubes • 2 heirloom tomatoes, cut into 1/2-inch cubes • 8 oz feta cheese, cut into 1/2-inch cubes • Sea salt, to taste
• 1 tsp peppercorns, coarsely crushed • 1 tsp coriander seeds, coarsely crushed • 1/2 tsp cumin seeds • 1/2 tsp turmeric • 1/4 cup coconut oil
Directions
2. Combine the watermelon,
1. In a small saucepan, sauté spices and herbs in the coconut oil for 3 minutes
tomatoes, and feta on a large platter or in a bowl. Drizzle with cooled turmeric oil. Now, simply sprinkle with sea salt and enjoy!
over medium heat to create turmeric oil. Take the pan off of the heat, then let it cool.
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
How My Parent’s Friends Changed Our Lives
1
Have Celebrity Divorces Always Been Crazy? Want to Save on Your Next Vacation?
2
Tomato and Watermelon Salad (Yes, Really!) Are We Headed for the First War in Space?
3
Fight SAD Early!
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Fight SAD Early! Start Taking Vitamin D Now, Before the Sun Goes Away
There are a few ways to combat wintertime SAD. Establishing a regular sleep schedule is important, as is an exercise routine and healthy diet. As mentioned, it’s hard to find vitamin D in foods, but milk and other food products are often intentionally enriched with it during processing. The most common solution, however, is taking a vitamin D supplement, which can be purchased over the counter at drugstores and grocery stores. It is commonly recommended for people living in places with harsher winters,
Do you get SAD? We’re talking about seasonal affective disorder, which affects 1%–10% of the population depending on the state you live in. Symptoms of SAD are similar to symptoms of depression, but unlike chronic depression, which can occur at any time, people with SAD only experience symptoms during a certain time of year, usually winter.
SAD has been strongly linked with shorter days and less sun — although summertime SAD can result from long days that
make sleep difficult, resulting in irritability and mood swings. In most cases, however, winter is the problem season, likely due to a link between less sun and a vitamin D deficiency.
and although there are negative side effects if taken in excess, a regular daily dose of vitamin D is a healthy way to ensure you have the right levels in your system. This month is the perfect time to begin that process. Vitamin D can take several months to build up to effective levels in our bodies. It may be the hottest time of the year in many places, but it’s also the ideal time to start fighting SAD early!
Depression is one common symptom of vitamin D deficiency, especially in patients who aren’t prone to depression due to other circumstances. Unfortunately, very few foods are good sources of vitamin D. The best source is sunlight itself.
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