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October 2025
A Legacy of Generosity
REMEMBERING BILL TINKLER
When I started my own firm, I wasn’t sure who would be there for me. It’s a strange moment in a career. You’ve got your name on the door, but the phone isn’t ringing. You’re optimistic but also wish someone would reach out and say, “Let me help.” For me, that person was Bill Tinkler. Bill had already had a long and successful career by the time I met him. He’d clerked for a federal judge, tried cases all over Georgia, and built a stellar reputation in the legal community. But none of that changed how he treated people. When I struck out on my own, Bill did more than offer a kind word. He brought me into cases, split fees with me, and made himself available when I needed another set of eyes on a filing. He didn’t have to do any of that. It was just how Bill was. Over time, the two of us worked together more. Sometimes, I’d bring him in, especially if a case got into the weeds or I needed someone who had seen more than I had. He never acted like he was above it. He just showed up and helped. But what I’ll remember most about Bill wasn’t his legal knowledge or courtroom stories. It was how he lived. We were driving back from a deposition once, passing a long line of homeless people. Bill stopped for every single one of them and handed out money. He was generous in ways that didn’t ask for recognition. Bill passed away earlier this year, and going to his funeral made it clear how many lives he touched. Person after person stood up and told stories about how Bill helped them, mentored them, or showed kindness when he didn’t have to. And you could tell people weren’t speaking well of him just because they felt they should. They did it because he earned it. One story I think about a lot is when he gave a client his car. Not loaned — gave. Gifts like that are against the rules in Georgia if you’re representing a client, and Bill knew it. So,
once he handed over the keys and the title, he had to step away from the case. That just shows the type of person he was. Sometimes, he was generous to a fault, but he always tried to help someone who needed it. And Bill wasn’t only that way with clients. When I was starting out, he didn’t owe me anything, but he brought me in on cases, let me learn from him, and treated me like a colleague. You meet all kinds of people when you’re in this profession long enough. Some are brilliant, but they don’t make time for anyone. Others are kind, but they burn out. Bill was one of the rare people who stuck around, stayed sharp, and still looked out for those around him. I think that’s what made him so easy to admire. I don’t want to get too sentimental, but Bill left a mark. He gave me chances when I needed them and never acted like he was doing me a favor. That kind of generosity is rare, and I’ll never forget it. Life’s too short to make people miserable along the way. Bill didn’t. He made people feel seen, respected, and supported. I hope I can do the same, even just a little.
–Joel Thrift
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Move, Make, and Mingle Finding Your People Starts With Doing What You Love
As life enters a new chapter, many find themselves craving meaningful activities and meaningful connections. Making new friends doesn’t always come as easily as it once did, but shared interests can offer a natural way to meet others. Engaging hobbies offer more than just something to do; they offer a way to belong. Recreational sports like golf, pickleball, or bowling bring people together through lighthearted competition and camaraderie. These games are less about winning and more about showing up, staying active, and enjoying a few laughs along the way. Community theater offers a behind- the-scenes magic all its own. You don’t
have to be on stage to be part of the show. Directing, costume design, set building, and ushering are all wonderful ways to get involved and meet like-minded people. Volunteering is another powerful way to connect. Whether you’re walking shelter dogs, preparing meals, or mentoring a young person, shared service often sparks lasting friendships built on purpose and compassion. If you enjoy music and movement, dance classes offer both. Whether ballroom, swing, or line dancing, these settings make it easy to meet new people while staying energized. And group fitness classes like water aerobics, tai chi, or walking groups
combine health and community in one uplifting routine. Love working with your hands? Craft clubs bring together quilters, knitters, painters, and other creatives to swap stories and skills. Even amateur or ham radio can be surprisingly social, offering a way to connect across town or the world without ever leaving home. Building new friendships may take intention, but these hobbies make it easy and delightful.
The Tale of the Mighty Manila Envelope
This Envelope Has Traveled Further Than You Think
Ever wonder why those big, tan envelopes guarding your documents like Fort Knox are called “Manila” envelopes? Turns out, there’s a rich
water-resistant, and golden in hue, these fibers became the key to making paper that didn’t crumble at the first drop of rain.
hue and reliable durability had built a brand. Even without a shred of real abacá, the trusty envelopes still carried the Manila name like a badge of honor. But here’s the twist: Despite the usefulness of Manila hemp, Filipino farmers barely benefited. During its colonization of the Philippines, the U.S. controlled abacá trade and funneled profits away from the source. So, the next time you grab a Manila envelope to stash your paperwork or mail your wares, know you’re holding a slice of history that stood the test of time (and coffee spills). Who knew your office supply drawer had such worldly flair?
backstory behind this office supply staple — and it has roots half a world away in the Philippines. Back in the 1830s, papermakers hit a snag. Traditional materials like cotton and linen (used to make paper pulp) were in short supply. Enter the seafaring solution: Manila
Originally, these envelopes weren’t the lightweight versions you toss into your office bin today. Early Manila folders were almost as thick as cardboard, and they soon became the go-to for carrying important papers through thick and thin. While the name Manila stuck, the actual plant fiber didn’t. Over
rope, crafted from Manila hemp (aka abacá), is a super-strong plant fiber native to the Philippines. Tough,
time, cheaper, easier-to-process wood pulp took over. But by then, the golden
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Start Your Day the Danish Way
TAKE A BREAK
Candy Gourd Haunting Leaves Libra Marigold Moon Opal Pumpkin Soup Teachers Touchdown
Create Hygge in Every Comforting Morning Step
There’s a quiet magic in the early morning. It’s a time made for gentleness, nourishing both body and spirit. That’s the beauty of hygge , a Danish philosophy rooted in comfort, mindfulness, and savoring life’s small pleasures. Pronounced “ hoo-gah ,” this gentle lifestyle encourages you to slow down and enjoy the present moment. And what better time to begin than first thing in the morning?
Begin right where you wake, still nestled beneath the covers. Before your feet ever touch
EXTRA-CRISPY RANCH CHICKEN CUTLETS
the floor, take a moment to
stretch — not the kind that feels like a chore but one that softly awakens your muscles and soothes your joints. This small act stirs your blood and eases your body into the day with kindness.
Ingredients
Inspired by TheCookieRookie.com
• Olive oil • 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste • 3/4 cup flour • 2 large eggs, beaten
• 1 cup panko breadcrumbs • 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese • 1 oz ranch seasoning, store-bought (1 packet) or homemade • Cooking spray
Let your shower become a sanctuary. Choose a soap that smells like the season — apple, cinnamon, or something crisp and woodsy. Let the warm water remind you that you’re not in a rush, that this moment is yours. As the coffee brews or tea steeps, light a candle . Watch it flicker and think of someone who has touched your life. Offer a quiet thank-you and wish them well. This small blessing is a gift to them and you. Slip on your walking shoes and greet the world outside . Even a short stroll can awaken a sense of calm. Listen to the autumn leaves rustle, feel the sun on your cheeks. Let nature’s rhythm soften your own. These hygge-inspired rituals help you reclaim mornings with grace, presence, and joy. You’ve earned mornings like these. Let them carry you forward.
Directions 1. Preheat oven to 375 F. Grease a 9x13-inch baking pan with olive oil and set aside. 2. Season both sides of chicken breasts with salt and pepper. 3. Set out three shallow bowls. In the first, combine flour and a pinch of salt and pepper. Add the eggs to the second bowl. Mix panko, Parmesan, and ranch seasoning mix in the third bowl. 4. For coating, dip seasoned chicken breasts in flour, coating both sides. Then, dip the chicken in the beaten eggs and, finally, the panko mixture. 5. Place each coated chicken breast in the prepared baking dish. 6. Spray the tops of the chicken with cooking spray. 7. Bake for 30 minutes, or until the chicken reaches 165 F and is golden brown.
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Lessons From a Legal Mentor
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Hobbies That Spark Connection at Every Stage of Life The Surprisingly Adventurous History of the Humble Manila Envelope
Extra-Crispy Ranch Chicken Cutlets
3
Hygge Morning Rituals to Nourish Your Spirit
Operation Ice Cream: Keeping Troops Cool in Combat
4
ICE CREAM ON DECK! How America Shipped Sweetness to the Front Lines
When it comes to sweet victories, nothing quite compares to ice cream, especially if you’re thousands of miles from home and dodging enemy fire. During the final stretch of World War II, the U.S. Army took dessert diplomacy to a new level with the launch of three massive, concrete-hulled floating freezers designed to deliver joy on a cone. These weren’t your average supply ships. Measuring nearly the length of a football field, these refrigerated barges churned out 500 gallons of ice cream a day, bringing spoonfuls of comfort to troops stationed across the Pacific. Nicknamed BRLs (short for “barge, refrigerated, large”), these floating fortresses of frozen delight also carried loads of meat, fresh produce, eggs, and cheese. But let’s be honest: Everyone came for the ice cream. Whether they were
battling the tropics or homesickness, a scoop of chocolate or vanilla was the perfect morale booster for the troops. Too far from a BRL? No worries. American ingenuity didn’t stop at the shoreline. Aviators on high-altitude flights transformed their B-17 bombers into makeshift ice cream makers by stashing cans of the mixture on board. The vibrations and freezing temperatures worked like a charm, turning turbulent missions into frozen dessert production. These sweet efforts weren’t about indulgence but about reminding the troops of life back home, of simpler pleasures, and that even in war, a little scoop of normalcy could make all the difference. Ice cream may not have won the war, but it certainly made the battlefield a little more bearable.
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