JUNE 2019 THE
COMMUNITY CONSCIENCE
Raising kids can be a challenging endeavor. When Heather and I married in 2013, she agreed to take on not only a husband but also two boys: Andrew, 12, and Chandler, 11. The boys are now 17 and 18 years old and face growing up in a world very different from the one Heather and I knew when we were teenagers. We are far from perfect parents, but we do our best. Our newsletter chronicles some of our successes and some of our less-than-stellar moments. We hope you can learn from some of our failures and find some entertainment in the moments we share. WHEN YOUR CHILD LEAVES HOME
TO A DAUGHTER LEAVING HOME
This morning, I went outside to check the mail and found a letter addressed to The Parents of Andrew Foust. The letter contained information about graduation. I knew it was coming, but this one-month warning was more difficult for me to swallow than I thought it would be. Letting a child grow up and move on is not an easy thing. For the past eight years, my routine has involved me waking up at about 6 a.m. and making two lunches: two sandwiches for Drew, one for Chandler; one apple and a banana for Chandler, two bananas for Drew; granola bars for each of them, and they are off. In less than 30 days, I will be down to one lunch. When I prepare these articles, I usually find some statistic about the experience featured in the issue. In this issue, I want to share a poem by Linda Pastan that I came across this morning.
I never really understood what my own parents went through when I left home. It seems this is an experience that requires a front row seat to be understood. The excitement of new adventures for Drew will become a reality. In the process, the Foust house is going to seem a little bigger and a little quieter.
When I taught you At eight to ride A bicycle, loping along Beside you
As you wobbled away On two round wheels, My own mouth rounding In surprise when you pulled Ahead down the curved path of the park, I kept waiting For the thud Of your crash as I Sprinted to catch up, While you grew Smaller, more breakable With distance, Pumping, pumping For our life, screaming With laughter,
Congratulations to all 2019 graduates. Oh, the places you will go!!!
- Lucas Foust
The hair flapping Behind you like a Handkerchief waving Goodbye.
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Heroic Dads Who Didn’t Back Down Being a Parent Isn’t Always a Walk in the Park Kids often look up to their father as one of their greatest heroes. There are the long drives to sports tournaments, the late-night movies, and the sweets when Mom isn’t looking. We probably all have some reason to look up to our dad as one of our biggest influences. It’s Father’s Day this month, a special time of year when we take a moment to think about the sacrifices the father figures in our lives have made for us. Most dads are pretty great, but some go above and beyond the fatherly call of duty. Let’s take a look at some heroic dads who risked everything to keep their families safe. BRAD LEWIS: OVER THE LEDGE Life can change in a split second, and how you choose to react in a moment of peril can define your legacy forever. Few people know this as well as Brad Lewis. When Brad and his young son, Oscar, were deeply entrenched in an intense Nerf battle, he surely didn’t think the situation would turn as dangerous as it did. When a few darts missed his father and landed on the balcony, Oscar ran after them but soon found himself teetering on the balcony’s ledge, 12 feet above the ground. Thinking fast, Brad grabbed his son just before he fell over, both taking the plunge while protecting his son with his own body. Just as he’d intended, Brad absorbed most of the blow. While Oscar sustained serious wounds, his father’s injuries were more severe. Brad was left fighting for his life in the ICU, with severe fractures to his skull
and vertebrae. Thankfully, Brad is expected to make a full recovery and has made serious strides since the accident. He and his son will live to play another day. GREG ALEXANDER: COULDN’T BEAR TO SEE HIS SON HURT While camping in Great Smoky Mountains National Park in June 2015, Greg Alexander awoke to the sound of a nightmare. The screams of his son intermingled with the roars of an unknown assailant, beckoning Greg to his son’s tent. There, he found his son Gabriel being attacked by a bear. The bear had his son by the head and was dragging him away. Greg jumped on the bear’s back, desperately trying to take attention away from Gabriel. Amazingly, it worked, and in the end, the bear ran away. Gabriel was left with serious cuts to his head, but thanks to his dad’s heroism, the two were able to walk away from that campsite and back to their lives together. The important thing to remember is that you don’t have to take a leap of faith or fight a bear to be a hero in your family’s eyes. Just be yourself, show some support, and do the best you can. Happy Father’s Day, everybody.
LAWSUITS FROM BEYOND Let’s Hope There’s a Courtroom in the Afterlife
We pride ourselves on being a country where everyone receives a fair trial. And while that’s not always the case, even the craziest claims still have to be heard in some capacity by a court of law. As you can imagine, this can result in plenty of spooky high jinks in the courtroom. Let’s take a look at some of the more baffling court cases in recent memory.
after his lawyer missed certain deadlines to turn in proper documents. Thankfully, the issue was resolved, but not before he had his credit cards and Medicaid revoked after appearing to be dead.
SOLEMNLY SPOOKED
DEAD MAN TALKING
An unnamed NewYork resident — just what on earth is going on in New York? — claimed that the house they’d recently purchased was horribly and cripplingly haunted by unseen forces. The poltergeist was said to disrupt their daily activity, and the plaintiff was suing on the grounds that the home was notorious in the area for being haunted and had a reputation as such. Therefore, the owner felt it should have been disclosed to them before closing on the home. They won. That’s right. The court ruled that the seller misled the plaintiff and should have disclosed the nature of this potentially harmful house. Shockingly enough, this type of thing is required to be disclosed when selling a house in NewYork. Well, at least a buyer will have peace of mind knowing that they got a sweet new pad and a ghoul for pennies on the dollar.
In something straight out of a Coen brothers movie, a NewYork man had to sue The NewYork Times on three separate occasions to get them to stop reporting that he was dead. In all fairness, it seemed like an honest mistake prolonged by the ineptitude of his public counsel and a whole lot of terrible coincidences all rolled into one. Juan Antonio Arias just so happened to share the same first and last name as one“Juan Arias”who had met his untimely demise. After it was reported in a Times article, the living Arias accidentally had his own date of birth and Social Security number added to the death certificate of his now deceased namesake in a terrible mix-up from the coroner. As a result, he sued on three occasions
2 • www.lucasfoustlaw.com
Prepare for Family Fun at an Amusement Park This Summer HOLD ON TIGHT!
On June 16, 1884, the first roller coaster in the nation opened to eager and brave participants at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York. In the years since the first riders climbed aboard the Switchback Railway 135 years ago, roller coasters and the amusement parks that house them have changed dramatically. But the thrill that attracted all those first participants still remains. Celebrate the nation’s love of heart-stopping adventure by visiting an amusement park this summer. Follow these tips to make the most out of your trip. I’M LOST! Before you head out, review park maps and ride descriptions. Create a list of the attractions everyone in your group wants to see and plan out your route ahead of time. While some spontaneity can be fun — it’s a vacation, after all — the sheer size of many parks coupled with high anticipation can be overwhelming if you aren’t prepared. Planning ahead will save you a few headaches and disappointed family members. PACK THE ESSENTIALS Find an over-the-shoulder bag or strap on a fanny pack to carry your cash, keys, snacks, water bottles, sunscreen, lip balm, and sunglasses.
You’re spending the whole day outside, so make sure you’re considering the weather when you head out and always slather on a generous amount of sunscreen. Lastly, wear comfortable walking shoes to prevent blisters and aching heels. You’ll have more fun if you know you’ll be prepared for anything. WATER COSTS HOW MUCH!? Amusement parks are expensive, and when you spend a whole day seeking thrills, you’re eventually going to need sustenance. Check the park’s rules before you leave, but most will allow your family to bring in a few snacks, like fruits or granola bars, and a reusable, empty water bottle. Many parks will have a drinking fountain near the entrance where you can fill up before exploring. If you plan to eat or drink at one of the establishments in the park, peruse the food options on the park’s website ahead of time to get an idea of what is available and how much money you should bring.
Adventure awaits this summer! Don’t let a lack of preparedness keep you from enjoying a 135-year-old tradition.
Take a Break!
Zucchini Salad
WITH TOASTED HAZELNUTS
With raw zucchini, toasted hazelnuts, and a robust Parmigiano-Reggiano, this early summer salad is a delight of different textures and flavors that will make a great side at your next cookout.
INGREDIENTS
• • • • •
3 small zucchini (3/4 lb.) 1/2 tsp lemon zest, grated 3 tbsp fresh lemon juice 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil Salt and pepper, to taste
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1/4 cup toasted hazelnuts, coarsely chopped Mint leaves, for garnish
• •
Parmesan cheese, preferably Parmigiano-Reggiano, for garnish
DIRECTIONS
1. Using a mandolin or very sharp knife, slice zucchini lengthwise into extremely thin, wide ribbons. 2. Arrange zucchini ribbons on a plate, sprinkle with lemon zest, and drizzle with juice. 3. Drizzle oil over zucchini, season with salt and pepper, and toss. 4. Scatter hazelnuts over the top, garnish withmint and cheese, and serve.
SOLUTION ON PAGE 4
Inspired by foodnetwork.com
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Foust Law Office
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
www.lucasfoustlaw.com 406-587-3720 Fax: 406-879-4400
3390 South 30th Avenue Bozeman, MT 59718
INSIDE THIS ISSUE Saying Goodbye PAGE 1 Heroic Dads Who Didn’t Back Down PAGE2 Crazy Lawsuits Surrounding the Dearly Departed PAGE 2 Amusement Park Trip Tips PAGE 3 Take a Break PAGE 3 Zucchini Salad With Toasted Hazelnuts PAGE 3 Take a Break From Your Smartphone PAGE 4
SOLUTION
ENJOY YOUR FAMILY TIME By Taking a Break From Your Phone
Setting some time aside to be with family is important, but it can be difficult when everyone is always on their cellphones. Constant cellphone use has become a global problem, and the habit is hard to break because we rely on mobile devices heavily for work, school, and keeping in contact with friends and family. Luckily, there are plenty of apps that can reduce how often you’re on your phone and minimize distractions. SIEMPO After you install Siempo on your phone, it will ask which apps are likely to distract you. Once you select them, the app will move those apps away from the home screen and place the important ones, such as the messaging, contacts, email, and calendar apps, on the first screen. You can also designate times for specific apps to be used throughout the day. STAY FOCUSED Stay Focused is like Siempo, but there are some significant differences. You can set times to access certain apps and put the most distracting ones on lock. Stay Focused also has a “strict mode” that prevents you from uninstalling it, so be sure to think carefully before activating the lockdown because you won’t have access to those specific apps until the timer runs out. FOREST In the time that Forest takes control of your device for a set time limit, the app starts growing a tree. Once the tree is fully grown, your time is up, and it joins the other trees that were grown during other breaks. If you pick up your phone and try to access an app, Forest will
send you a notification asking you if you want to kill your baby tree by giving up. Who says guilt isn’t a good motivator?
BESIDES APPS Aside from using these apps, silencing your phone and putting it in another room, leaving it in your car if you’re out at dinner, or keeping it in your purse or back pocket during a social event can also reduce your screen time. Having your phone out of sight and out of reach will keep the temptation of pulling it out at bay.
Spending time with your family is crucial, and with these apps and tips, you’ll enjoy each other’s company without too many screen distractions.
4 • www.lucasfoustlaw.com
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