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MAY/JU
NE 2023
2 Peas in a Pod CELEBRATING A DECADELONG FRIENDSHIP It’s hard to believe we’re already halfway through spring and rapidly approaching summer. I’m glad the weather has warmed up and the sun is shining, as we now have plenty of opportunities to get outside and enjoy ourselves. For me, this means I’ll be spending my free time watching baseball and admiring the beauty of the spring season. Those activities become even more enjoyable when you participate with the people closest to you. In early June, I’ll be sure to watch a baseball game or two with one of my best friends, Brad Colton, when we celebrate National Best Friends Day! I’ve known Brad for over a decade now, and we’ve been close friends ever since. Brad’s past always fascinated me because he played minor league baseball for the Mariners during the ‘80s. In this photo, you can see him and his then-pregnant wife “bumping bellies” at Doubleday Field! He has many great stories from that time any baseball fanatic would enjoy hearing. Once his professional career concluded, he continued to play in a high- level men’s league in Cooperstown, NY, where the National Baseball Hall of Fame resides. My family and I are actually planning on visiting Cooperstown this summer. I’ve never been, but I have always wanted to go. I’m ecstatic about this upcoming trip! It’s been such a great experience getting to know Brad and his family. Our families get along well, which has been a blessing for all of us. We’re always willing to go the extra mile to help each other. Brad’s youngest daughter, Abby, worked for us this past summer as an intern and will likely work for us again when school lets out. It was great to get to know her and work with her in a professional environment.
My kids have always enjoyed spending time with Brad and his family. Not long ago, Brad planted this amazing flower garden at my house for my daughter. He replenishes it every spring, so it stays looking beautiful! Brad has a large property full of chickens, goats, geese, and ducks that my sons love to explore. Sometimes, he even lets them feed the chickens! And on occasion, I’ll wake up in the morning to find a dozen eggs sitting on my porch as a gift from Brad. It’s such a nice gesture, and I’m so grateful for our friendship. Relationships are essential to our overall well-being, so it’s vital to develop friendships and build a support system when we’re able. You’ll meet people who look to you as a source of inspiration, kindness, and joy while they fill vital roles in your life. Making friends, especially as we grow older, can be challenging, but it is possible. Don’t hesitate to reach out to people in your community. Strike up a conversation with someone the next time you’re at the grocery store or doctor’s office. You’ll likely meet someone with similar interests who could become a close friend. You can even reach out to us when you need a friend. We’ve made great connections with many clients and worked with them monthly for years. I love helping our clients and providing them with kindness, compassion, and support.
Building a friendship takes effort and dedication, but once it’s solid, it becomes one of the most important relationships in our lives. This month, take time to appreciate those friends who have stuck by your side through thick and thin.
1-877-9-DISABLED (877-934-7225) • KeefeLaw.com •
On the night of New Year’s Eve in 2014, a group of burglars experienced the fright of a lifetime. Expecting to rob a quiet home in Derby, England, the intruders instead came face to snout with Ludwig, a 240-pound potbellied pig. Abandoning all thoughts of crime once they spotted the pig, the burglars instantly fled the scene and ran for their lives. The “hero ham” had already become a popular figure in his town and was well-loved for his gentle demeanor. In fact, Michael Maughan, Ludwig’s owner, is confident that Ludwig wouldn’t have harmed the intruders, even if he does look quite intimidating. Local officers believe the robbers must have heard Ludwig’s Rottweiler-like “growl” and immediately hit the road, leaving the door wide open behind them. The story of this heroic potbellied pig became a sensation throughout Europe. Countless fans have applauded the Canadian-born hog for his loyalty to his owners. But the owners want to ensure people understand that Ludwig would never hurt anyone. Some fabricated web stories
made Ludwig sound more dangerous than he is, so Maughan
A Ham-Fisted Attempt at Robbery
spoke to the Toronto Star to dispute any defamations against Ludwig’s kindness.
“He’s being painted as a vicious creature when he’s actually quite a sweet animal,” he explained. “He didn’t exactly bare his tusks and charge, I don’t think. I think he got absolutely, ‘Arrgh,’ and they just ran for it.” In fact, Maughan detailed that after a two-month separation during their move to England, the pig shed tears during their reunion. Adorable and affectionate, Ludwig would have probably become friends with the intruders in no time. Even if his “bark” is worse than his bite, Ludwig succeeded in keeping his owners safe while also protecting their home. This 240-pound potbellied pig continues to enjoy his comfortable home in Derby and is considered a town hero. Anyone looking for a guard dog may want to consider a hefty hog instead!
INTRUDERS FLEE FROM LUDWIG THE PIG
Will I Get More SSDI Benefits? I HAVE MORE THAN ONE HEALTH CONDITION
Do you have more than one health condition? If so, you may ask what the best approach is when applying for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). Should you add every condition to your application? Does this improve your chances of approval? Or is it better to focus on a single condition giving you the most trouble? And, if you have several conditions, do you qualify for more benefits? These are all critical questions to ask your attorney. You may only have one health problem stopping you from working, but many SSDI applicants have more than one condition. It is their combined impact that makes it difficult to work. Each condition may be more or less severe on its own, so the Social Security Administration (SSA) may look at the big picture for your case. Adding all eligible issues to your SSDI application is a good idea, even if you think something is minor. This includes both physical and mental impairments. When approving benefits, the SSA evaluates your disability as a whole and the nuance of how conditions interact. A minor impairment can worsen the symptoms of another health problem.
Those who have applied or whose claims the SSA has approved have wondered if they’ll gain more benefits by having more than one condition. The simple answer is no. Having more than one condition does not mean you will receive more money each month. SSDI benefits help cover any lost wages as a result of your disability. The point is that you are not able to work. Say you eliminated three of your conditions, for example. You would not be able to triple your wages at your current job. The same is true with disability benefits. The SSA looks at your case as a whole. The amount you receive does not increase with more health conditions. The extent of your disability benefits may depend on other factors, however. Just saying you have a condition may not be enough. Even if you think you cannot work, the SSA may see things differently. Documentation matters as the SSA looks very closely at the medical evidence. What are the doctors and other health professionals saying? Can other witnesses attest to your ability to work? An experienced attorney can help you present the most compelling case possible to SSA. Give us a call today to see how we can help you!
• 1-877-9-DISABLED (877-934-7225) • KeefeLaw.com
If you read our cover article this month, you learned all about Patrick’s good friend, Brad Colton. Over this past summer and during the holiday season, we were lucky enough to have Brad’s daughter, Abby, join our team as a legal intern. She greatly impressed us with her work ethic and dedication, so we hope to bring her back again this summer while she prepares to start her senior year at the University of Connecticut. When Abby joined our team, she had little experience with the legal field. She’s majoring in finance and knows she will one day work in an office setting, which led her to an intern position at our office. We were glad to provide her with the experience, and she learned much about the legal field while working with us. She even took a business law class during her junior year because she enjoyed working at our firm. BY TAKING STEPS TO REACH HER GOALS Abby Is Building a Brighter Future
GINGER PORK STIR-FRY
Looking for a healthy stir-fry that has all of the delicious flavors and none of the heavy ingredients? This one might be perfect for you!
INGREDIENTS
• • • • • •
1 tbsp cornstarch 1 cup orange juice 2 tbsp soy sauce
• • •
1 small onion, sliced 1/4 lb fresh snow peas 1/2 sweet red pepper, julienned
2 cloves garlic, minced 1/4 tsp ground ginger 1 lb pork tenderloin, cut into thin strips
• •
Cooked rice
Green onion, chopped (optional) Sesame seeds (optional)
•
2 tbsp canola oil
•
DIRECTIONS 1. In a small bowl, whisk cornstarch, orange juice, soy sauce, garlic, and ginger until smooth; set aside. 2. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, stir-fry pork in oil until lightly browned, about 4–5 minutes. Remove pork and add onion, peas, and red pepper. Cook until crisp-tender, about 3–5 minutes. 3. Stir in orange juice mixture and pork. Bring to a boil, and then cook until thickened, about 2 minutes. Serve over rice. Garnish with green onion and sesame seeds, if desired.
Abby worked diligently at building relationships with clients and coworkers during her internship. She wasn’t sure what to expect on her first day but was glad to find such a welcoming culture with us. She loved seeing how much work her coworkers put into their jobs and felt everyone was committed to helping our clients with their legal needs. She also learned more about people, relationships, and how businesses function by helping our clients.
Inspired by TasteOfHome.com
As Abby continues her education and looks for work after graduation, she won’t focus solely on making as much money as possible or ensuring her employer succeeds. Instead, she wants to build meaningful relationships and cultivate a solid work-life balance. With her hard work, dedication, and consistency, we know she will succeed in her career path. Abby often plays or watches sports with her friends and family when she gets some free time. She loves to spend time outdoors and stay active, especially during the warmer months.
It’s been an absolute pleasure watching Abby grow in her role; we know she has great things ahead of her.
1-877-9-DISABLED (877-934-7225) • KeefeLaw.com •
209 W Central St #300 Natick, MA 01760 385 Court St., Suite 210 Plymouth, MA 02360 1-877-9-DISABLED (1-877-934-7225) KeefeLaw.com
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SHARE YOUR STORY! Do you want to share a story about your disability claim, experience with Hartwig Law Firm, or just a funny story in general? Contact Andrea at (508) 732-8989 or via email at Patrick@KeefeLaw.com, and you could be featured in our next newsletter!
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The Power of Friendship
Potbellied Pig Terrifies Burglars
What if I Have More Than One Health Condition?
3
Learn More About Our Legal Intern, Abby
Ginger Pork Stir-Fry
4
The Mysteriously Missing Metric System
WHY AMERICA NEVER CHANGED TO KILOS AND GRAMS Pirates Stole Our Metric System
Pirates, that’s right, pirates stopped America from changing to the metric system. While they can’t take all the blame, they steal a good chunk of it. There was a specific time in history when America did consider taking up the metric system. But pirates intercepted the standards, and America has refused to change its measuring system ever since. Way back when America was still a new country, there was no regulated measuring system throughout the states. Each territory was using some bizarre system that stayed only within state lines. For example, people were using Roman measurements, Dutch systems, and British systems dating back to King Henry VII. In 1789, Thomas Jefferson decided that some order needed to be in place. A lover of all things French, Jefferson admired the metric system’s logic and principle. He asked the French to help the U.S. transition to the metric system, and they were kind enough to send scientist Joseph Dombey. Dombey boarded a ship and set sail for America with two items pivotal to our measuring system change. The first gadget was a copper cylinder 3 inches in height and width, weighing precisely 1 kilogram. The second was another copper object, but this time a rod estimated to be a meter
in length. These simple trinkets would have eased us into the metric system. Except,
we never received them. In fact, Dombey never set foot in America.
Unfortunately, storm winds blew his ship off course and into the pirate-filled Caribbean. The pirates
hijacked his boat and held him captive, hoping to use him for ransom. In a tragic turn of events, Dombey died in that pirate prison
before any ransom money could be sent. The pirates then auctioned off everything Dombey had on his boat, metric measuring tools included.
So, you can thank the pirates for all the painstaking work we have to go through when using metric-based recipes. Why Americans never swapped systems after 1789 is still a mystery!
• 1-877-9-DISABLED (877-934-7225) • KeefeLaw.com
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