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KevinTharpe.com (770) 503-1022 Grace Through Generations Kevin’s Peace of Mind HOW GRANDPARENTS SHAPE OUR SOULS
September 2025
I was recently reminded that Grandparents’ Day is on Sept. 7 this year. While it’s nice to have a holiday devoted to celebrating these special members of our families, I feel my grandparents’ presence every day, especially my grandfather, Paw Paw Green. Just before Paw Paw Green passed away, I learned that his wife and my grandmother, Dorothy Green, wasn’t my mother’s biological mother. Sadly, my biological grandmother had suffered from mental health and addiction issues, and she left the family when my mother was still a child. I have a picture of my grandfather, my mother, and her sisters. This was when it was hard for someone like my grandfather to raise three girls alone. He worked multiple jobs to support them and had to put them in an orphanage during the week. He did that for years until he met and married Dorothy, our dear “Nanny” Green. My grandfather will always be my hero for what he did for my mother and her sisters. “Paw Paw” Green, meanwhile, lived a full life. After starting his career pumping coal into a steam engine and working in the railroad switch yard in Atlanta, he soon worked his way up to becoming a train engineer. When he retired, they gave him a gold watch, which he passed on to me. I also own a postcard with a picture of him driving a train.
home?” I didn’t know the answer, but I was sure determined to find out. Tax law stopped being my purpose in life. It was because of “Paw Paw” that I realized God called me to be an elder law attorney. I’m an elder law attorney today because I’ve been where many of my clients have been and are today. My grandfather’s spirit is with me in every elder law case I handle. I could say much more about all of my grandparents. If given the chance, what would you say about your grandparents? If these irreplaceable people in your life were anything like mine, your page would be filled with words of light, love, and gratitude for everything they were.
Sadly, in his later years, he dealt with a series of physical challenges, including two hip replacements and three strokes. At the time of his third stroke, I had just finished law school and passed the bar exam. Initially, my goal was to work in tax law at the IRS, but that plan soon changed. When he became so ill that he had to live in a nursing home, my grandmother asked me, “Are we going to lose our home because your Paw Paw is in a nursing
—Kevin
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When a Gift Becomes a Crime
SNYDER V. UNITED STATES EXPLAINED
When does a gift cross the line into a crime? That’s the question the U.S. Supreme Court tackled in Snyder v. United States , a decision that could reshape how we think about corruption in state and local government. The ruling narrows the scope of federal law used to prosecute public officials by making a key distinction between a bribe and a gratuity. The Facts of the Snyder Case The case centered on James Snyder, the former mayor of Portage, Indiana. While in office, Snyder steered city contracts for garbage trucks to a local company. After
public officials to take a bribe that influences an official act. That much is clear. But what about gifts that come after a deal is done? According to the Court, accepting those is not a crime. Writing for the majority, Justice Kavanaugh put it plainly in saying that § 666 is about corrupt deals — quid pro quo — not the small “tokens of appreciation” that sometimes follow an official act. Drawing the line differently, he warned, could have unfair implications for state and local officials nationwide. The Court’s decision also flagged federal overreach. The majority said regulating gifts and gratuities is not the federal government’s business but a job for state and local governments. Impact of the Snyder Decision The Snyder ruling is the latest in a series of decisions going back to 2000 that limit the reach of federal anti-corruption laws. It also leaves questions about who will step in to fill the gap. If federal prosecutors can’t go after public officials for gifts given after the fact, it’s now up to state and local officials to handle those situations. Local and state laws vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction and may not always be as strong or clear.
the deals were done, he accepted a $13,000 payment from that same company. Federal prosecutors argued the payment was an illegal gratuity under 18 U.S.C.
§ 666, a law that bars state and local officials from taking payments in connection with their legal duties. Snyder’s defense was simple: There was no prior agreement. The payment came after the fact, with no strings attached.
But the government saw it differently, and a jury
Does this ruling open the door to more “thank you” payments to government officials? Maybe. But for now, Snyder makes one thing clear: The line is drawn at bribes. Everything else is a matter for the states to figure out.
convicted him. That conviction, though, didn’t stand for long. The Scope of § 666 The Supreme Court’s decision came
down to when a gift becomes a crime. The law at the heart of the case makes it illegal for
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TAKE A BREAK
How Retirees Are Redefining Work
Apples Aster Coffee Constitution Foliage Grandparents Labor Lunchbox Pirate Sapphire Virgo Waffles
What are you planning for your retirement? If you’re like many people, your plans likely look different from those of retirees a few decades ago. Retirement used to mean slowing down, and it still does. However, many retirees now choose to continue working through a side hustle. The flexibility of a side hustle makes it perfect for those in retirement. And it’s a great way to earn extra income for unexpected living expenses. Today, a variety of side gigs offer flexible hours or the chance to work from home. A retired teacher might start remote tutoring, and someone who spent years in a corporate office could find work as a part-time consultant. Others find a way to turn a hobby into something more, like selling homemade crafts or working as a freelance writer. Rideshare and food delivery apps are also great options and don’t require any experience to get started. Money is a big draw, but many retirees find that a side hustle has other benefits. Working part- time can add structure to your day and allow you to meet new people. It can also help you stay mentally sharp and give you a sense of purpose after the structure of a full-time job fades away. Another great thing about working this way is that you can do it on your terms. It can be as simple as helping out a few hours a week or offering services during the busy season. What matters is finding something that feels rewarding. If retirement is a new chapter, a side hustle can be a plot twist that keeps things interesting. Finding Purpose Through a Side Hustle
CREAMY CAULIFLOWER SOUP
Ingredients
Inspired by CookieAndKate.com
• 1 large head cauliflower, cut into bite-size florets • 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil, divided • 1/4 tsp fine sea salt, plus more • 1 medium red onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic,
pressed or minced • 4 cups vegetable broth • 2 tbsp unsalted butter • 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice • 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg • 2 tbsp chopped flat-leaf parsley, chives, or green onions for garnish
Directions 1. Preheat oven to 425 F. 2. On a rimmed baking sheet lined with parchment paper, toss cauliflower with 2 tbsp olive oil. 3. Arrange cauliflower in a single layer, sprinkle with a little salt, and bake 25–35 minutes until tender. 4. In a soup pot, warm remaining olive oil and cook onion and 1/4 tsp salt until soft. 5. Add garlic and cook 30 seconds until fragrant, then add broth. 6. Add all but 4 cauliflower florets to the pot and simmer for 20 minutes. 7. Transfer mixture to a blender, add butter, and blend until smooth. Then blend in lemon juice and nutmeg. 8. Garnish with cauliflower florets and serve. Add parsley, onion, and chives as desired.
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(770) 503-1022 KevinTharpe.com 405 Broad St. Gainesville, GA 30501
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
1
Lessons From 4 Lives
New Lines Drawn in Corruption Law
2
Creamy Cauliflower Soup
3
Why Side Hustles Are a Hit for Retirees
The War Over a Wooden Bucket
4
WHEN A BUCKET SPARKED A WAR
If you’ve spent any time studying history, you know it is full of strange moments. But did you know a war was once fought over a wooden bucket? It might sound like something straight out of a cartoon, but it’s an actual story from history. In the 14th century, two Italian city-states — Modena and Bologna — found themselves in a heated feud. Tensions had been brewing between the two for years, but one act sent them over the edge. That tipping point? A bucket. According to legend, Modenese soldiers snuck into Bologna and swiped an oaken bucket from the town well. Bologna wanted it back, but Modena wouldn’t budge. The outraged Bolognese responded with all-out war. If you think this sounds too absurd to be true, you’re not alone. Of course, the bucket wasn’t really the issue. The groundwork for the War of the Bucket was
laid more than 200 years before the actual battle. Still, the bucket story is true. And yes, they fought a war. The outnumbered Modenese were the victors, and the conflict claimed the lives of around 2,000 men from both sides. What historians still don’t know for sure, though, is whether the bucket was taken before the battle or afterward as a trophy, but Modena still has it to this day. If you ever visit the city, you can see it on display in Modena’s town hall, where it sits as a reminder that even small things can spark big events.
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