Writing Letters The Most Meaningful Method of Communication Eversole Monthly
December 2019
Writing letters has become somewhat obsolete as online instant messaging and texting have become the primary means of communication today. Writing letters was once the only way people could communicate for hundreds of years, but the practice dwindled quickly once technology changed the communication landscape. Now, not very many people consider writing a letter when all they need to do is take a few seconds to call or send a text message. For goodness’ sake, Facebook, Twitter, and other social media sites and apps allow us to “write” to anyone, even if you don’t know them. December is not only a time to think about the importance of writing a letter but also serves to encourage people to write letters more often. National Letter Writing Day is celebrated on Dec. 7, giving people all across the country an incentive to write to anyone who might be significant to them or simply to convey a heartfelt message. Writing a handwritten letter is somewhat of a lost art, but its importance lies in the time and effort it takes to sit down, write it out, and deliver it. The tough part for me is finding the uninterrupted time needed to handwrite a thoughtful letter, not to mention having the appropriate stationary or cards on hand to match the sentiment I want to express. When typing a message on a word processor, it’s easy to erase or rearrange what you’ve already written by merely hitting the backspace key or cutting and pasting. That isn’t the case in a handwritten letter. We must think carefully about the overall message and how to say it, and we must consider how it will be interpreted by the reader. All of this includes carefully choosing what words to use and taking the time to write clearly. In the end, the effort you put into a handwritten letter in this otherwise fast-paced world imbues it with more lasting meaning for both writer and reader.
Last month, I wrote briefly about what writing a letter of thanks can do for both the giver and receiver. Now, if you’re planning to participate in National Letter Writing Day, remember that your letter can be about anything you wish. You could consider reconnecting with an old friend or distant family member. A handwritten letter can be a great way to reflect on good ol’ times shared with others. Or you could reflect on political views important to you in a letter to an elected official in your community, state, or the nation. Of course, letter writing isn’t restricted to National Letter Writing Day. Consider this: All month long, thousands of kids around the world are eager to pull out a piece of paper and colored pencil and get to work asking Santa Claus for their heart’s desire to be delivered to them under the Christmas tree.
Who would you write a letter to? Give it a shot. It is good for the soul.
May you have a blessed and wonderful Christmas, Hanukkah, or whichever holiday you find meaningful.
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Why Do We Hang Christmas Lights? Light Up the Night
Johnson continued this tradition, increasing the number of lights each year and eventually putting them up outside. But because electricity was still a new concept, many years passed before the fad took off for regular Americans. In 1923, President Calvin Coolidge began the tradition of lighting the National Christmas Tree, which spurred the idea of selling stringed lights commercially. By the 1930s, families everywhere were buying boxes of bulbs by the dozen. Today, an estimated 150 million Christmas lights are sold in America each year, decorating 80 million homes and consuming 6% of the nation’s electricity every December. Whether you’ll be putting up your own lights or appreciating the most impressive light displays in your neighborhood or town, let the glow fill you with joy this season. Just don’t leave them up until February!
The first string of twinkling lights illuminating your
neighbor’s house is always a telltale sign of the upcoming seasonal festivities. Christmas lights are a holiday staple, but have you ever wondered where this beloved tradition started?
The tradition of hanging lights on the tree originally started with candles. Because this posed an immense fire hazard, Edward Hibberd Johnson, a close friend of Thomas Edison and vice president of the Edison Electric Light Company, vowed to find a better way to decorate Christmas trees with light. In December 1882, three years after Edison’s invention of the lightbulb in November 1879, Johnson hand-wired 80 red, white, and blue lightbulbs together and wound them around a Christmas tree in his parlor window. A passing reporter saw the spectacle and declared in the Detroit Post and Tribune, “One can hardly imagine anything prettier.”
Meet Kirsten Campbell
Legal Assistant
Throughout her early schooling, she kept those words in mind, and when presented with the opportunity, she jumped at it. “When the office manager asked if I wanted to start here at Eversole Law, I knew it was a good road to go down,” she says. “The work here is encouraging and motivating; I love everything we do, and I’ve learned so much from everyone. Alysoun is an amazing attorney and has been a role model for me since I started here. The best part about what I do is that feeling of accomplishment at the end of a busy day.” When Kirsten isn’t busy in the office or building her business, she enjoys relaxing with her friends. “I really like getting outside and walking downtown or spending some time at the beach, at least when it’s warmer.”
Eversole Law Firm wants to highlight our hardworking legal assistant, Kirsten Campbell, in our newsletter this month! Kirsten has been working in our office building for the past two years and recently joined our firm as an employee. We’re all immensely proud of the care she shows for her work, for our clients, and for the team atmosphere. Before she joined our team, Kirsten often thought about becoming a lawyer, but she was never sure how to get started down that path. “Growing up, I always thought I’d become a lawyer later in life, but I never thought too hard about it. I didn’t have any lawyers in the family who I looked up to, but I always thought it was an interesting subject. I was also told I was good at making arguments and that I had a good poker face.”
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Will We Have Another Snow-Covered Beaufort This Winter?
professional heating service to ensure it works properly. If you’re planning on using your fireplace this winter, get in touch with a chimney sweep before you start using it regularly. Use this time to check your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors too; make sure they’re working correctly and change the batteries if needed. Vehicle Preparation Do more than the bare minimum for your vehicle this winter. It’s crucial to regularly check your antifreeze, make sure your radiator is working properly, replace your tires if the tread is worn down, and keep your gas tank full to prevent ice from forming in your tank. In addition to car maintenance, keep a winter emergency kit in your car just in case you end up stranded. This should include food and water, a flashlight, extra batteries, an extra cellphone and charger, maps, a battery-powered radio, and an ice scraper for the windows. It’s not often we have the chance to see our city with a white blanket of snow and icicles hanging from our roofs, but properly preparing for it can make the event much more enjoyable.
Beaufort, South Carolina, has had a few fantastic winters over the years. Last year, the city was covered in snow and ice for almost a full week, which many long-term residents know is unusual for us. With winter officially starting this month, our team at Eversole Law wants to go over a few tips to help people prepare for the winter season this year. Rock Salt vs. Sand Ice is an extreme problem in the winter. We had snow two years ago right when my husband and I were moving into a new home and discovered that regular table salt actually created ice when we spread it on the front steps of the house! To reduce the risk of slipping this year, use rock salt or sand on your driveway, sidewalk, and stairs. Rock salt helps prevent the ground from freezing over and also melts existing patches of ice. Keep in mind that rock salt is effective only if the temperature is 12 degrees F or higher. Sand is effective no matter the temperature because it’s applied to the top of the ice to create friction. However, if it snows again and the sand is covered, it will need to be reapplied. Heating for Your Home Having a warm house is a must when the weather becomes colder. If you need your heating system checked, call a
LEARNING
Cranberry Gingerbread Inspired by Food & Wine Magazine
LEGALESE
Ingredients
• 1 1/2 cups fresh cranberries, coarsely chopped • 2 cups all-purpose flour • 2 tsp baking powder • 1 tsp baking soda • 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon • 1/2 tsp ground cloves • 1/2 tsp kosher salt
● 1/2 cup canola oil, plus more for greasing ● 3/4 cup unsulphured molasses ● 3/4 cup packed light brown sugar ● 2 large eggs ● 1 tbsp fresh ginger, peeled and finely grated
Force majeure Clause in a contract protecting the parties in the event a part of the contract cannot be performed due to causes which are outside the control of the parties and could not be avoided by exercise of due care, i.e. a casualty or act of God.
Directions
cloves, and salt. Mix dry ingredients into wet ingredients until blended. 4. Scrape batter into loaf pan and bake for 50 minutes. 5. Transfer to a rack, let cool for 20 minutes, slice, and serve.
1. Heat oven to 350 F. 2. Grease a loaf pan with canola oil. 3. In a large mixing bowl, mix together 1/2 cup canola oil, molasses, brown sugar, eggs, ginger, and cranberries. In a separate bowl, sift and combine flour with baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon,
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Eversole Law Firm, P.C. 1509 King Street Beaufort, SC 29902 (843) 379-3333 www.eversolelaw.com
Disclaimer: The content of this publication has been prepared by Eversole Law Firm, P.C. for informational purposes only and is not to be construed as legal advice. It does not create an attorney-client relationship with its readers and may not be used by you, the reader, as legal advice. You are encouraged to consult with us or another attorney about your circumstances to which the information in this document may apply.
What’s Inside 1. Bringing Back the Old Ways 2. The History Behind Christmas Lights Team Member Spotlight 3. Bracing Yourself for Winter Cranberry Gingerbread 4. 4 Eco-Friendly Ways to Decorate for the Holidays
I’m Dreaming of a Green Christmas
4 Eco-Friendly Ways to Decorate for the Holidays
pomanders (oranges studded with cloves) and pinecones makes for a beautiful centerpiece that smells festive, too.
Considering all the wrapping paper, decorations, and cards that fill our homes during the holiday season, it’s no surprise that the period between
Go Wild With Plants If you like to decorate your stair rail or mantlepiece, try replacing the shiny plastic and fake-foliage garlands with real holly and pine boughs or bringing festive potted plants indoors. Small evergreen trees, holly bushes, and poinsettias are all attractive choices that can, with proper care, last the whole year. Dare to DIY If you have the time, scrap paper can be cut into beautiful ornaments, and old Christmas cards can be punched into leaf shapes and used to create lovely wreaths. Don’t forget to save your wrapping paper and ribbon scraps for next year! Thrift Shop Till You Drop If you have your heart set on glitzy glass ornaments or an elaborate candle centerpiece, check nearby thrift stores before you head to Walmart. They’re often stocked to the brim with Christmas decor during the holidays, and you can probably get something you’ll love for pennies on the dollar! Plus, by recycling these previously used decorations, you’ll be keeping them out of the landfill.
Thanksgiving and New Year’s is not only the most cheerful but also the most wasteful time of year. According to Stanford University, Americans generate 25% more trash during the holidays than any other period — that’s the equivalent of one million extra tons per week, which is enough to convince anyone worried about the health of the planet to cut back on the tinsel and fake snow. Luckily for the eco-conscious, celebrating the season without adding too much to the landfill is totally possible. To start your own green Christmas traditions, try these tricks: Opt for Edible Remember the cranberry and popcorn garlands of Christmases past? It’s time to bring them back! Pair handmade garlands with iced salt dough and gingerbread ornaments for a fully edible, compostable tree decorating scheme. A bowl of patterned
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