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November 2019
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Enjoying Thanksgiving A Family Tradition of Travel, Food, and Loved Ones
From when I was a kid and well into my college years, my family celebrated Thanksgiving at my grandparents’ place in Arizona. My grandparents would travel to Arizona around the holiday season, where they were part of a large retirement community. Thanksgiving for us always stretched out for a few days so we could spend a lot of time with the family while we were all together. We would try to get to my grandparents as soon as possible, usually after Mom and Dad got off work early Thursday morning. All of us would pile in the car and drive straight through to Arizona while my cousins, aunts, and uncles in other states did the same. We’d meet up with them and a bunch of my grandparents’ friends who would come over to join in the festivities. There would always be about 20–30 of us together, and we’d spend the day playing games, hanging out in the Jacuzzi, swimming in the pool, and celebrating Thanksgiving with a fantastic dinner. It was always a lot of fun. The following Friday morning, the family would head over to a local pizza place to get our annual breakfast pizza. It would be a smaller group than at dinner the night before, but still quite a few people. The restaurant wasn’t prone to taking reservations, but my family would always call ahead and show up before they opened just to make sure we got a table together. I remember that my granddad would always order a jalapeño pizza and say, “Make it green.” He loved his jalapeños. Then on Saturday, one of my uncles would take the family out for dinner at a nice restaurant. They would make reservations for us at one of the best places around town. Later that day, my family would get back into the car and head home, exhausted and content from the weekend celebration. I had a lot of fun on these family adventures and looked forward to them as the holiday season started to kick off. My grandparents were pretty cool and really enjoyed traveling, but they stopped going back to Arizona when my grandfather began to have memory issues. The two of them moved up to Alaska, where they lived for many years before my grandfather passed away and my grandmother moved back down to Texas so we could keep an eye on her. We were all sad to see this family tradition come to an end, but we still have plenty “There would always be about 20–30 of us together, and we’d spend the day playing games, hanging out in the Jacuzzi, swimming in the pool, and celebrating Thanksgiving with a fantastic dinner. It was always a lot of fun.”
of great memories of the celebrations we enjoyed. I’ll always especially remember the last time we took our Arizona Thanksgiving holiday trip.
When I was really young, my grandparents lived in Washington state, and during one particular visit, I went off with my grandfather. He was planning on purchasing a chainsaw-sculpted bear from a local sculptor, and I tagged along for the short trip. I remember watching as the sculptor made the bear appear out of a block of wood, and I loved that bear. The sculpture remained at my grandparents’ house, wherever they were living at the time. For the holidays, they would dress it up — a pilgrim hat for Thanksgiving, bunny ears for Easter, and a Santa hat for Christmas. Whenever my family came over for any occasion, that bear was there celebrating with us, and I was happy to see it. On my last visit with my grandparents to Arizona, my granddad gave the bear to me, and it’s now sitting in my house. For me, the bear represents the holidays with my grandparents. Whenever I see it, I think of my granddad and all the wonderful times we had at our family gatherings.
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The Sport That United a Country THE 1995 RUGBY WORLD CUP
game. It was controversial because of its connection to the architects of apartheid, but Mandela saw rugby’s potential as a symbol of hope and unity for a country that desperately needed it. Springboks captain Francois Pienaar (played by Matt Damon in “Invictus,” the film adaptation of this event) thought the president’s support of the team was a brilliant act. “During those six weeks, what happened in this country was incredible,” Pienaar said. Just before the final game that would decide the 1995 World Cup winners, Mandela sported a Springboks jersey and stood behind the team. Through a hard-fought match, South Africa came out on top, and, after receiving the trophy from President Mandela, Pienaar explained the atmosphere of the event: “When the final whistle blew, this country changed forever.” If the 1995 World Cup was any indication, the camaraderie inherent to rugby can transcend all kinds of barriers. Meet a fellow rugby player or fan in any part of the world, and you’ll likely forge an instant kinship. In 2021, you can look forward to cheering on the women’s teams during the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.
In early November, the 2019 Rugby World Cup will wrap up in Japan. The international competition brings out world-class athletes and entertainment. While matches are certainly intense, respect for the competition and for referees is a core tenet of rugby culture. After going head-to-head with an opponent, you’ll still shake hands, and maybe have a beer together, at the end of a match. This principle was on full display nearly 25 years ago at the 1995 Rugby World Cup final in South Africa. The South African Springboks were up against the New Zealand All Blacks, and a number of factors made this an exceptional match. Just a few years earlier in 1991, apartheid legislation had been repealed in South Africa. The policy had left a deep cut, and the country still had a long journey toward healing and reparation. Nelson Mandela, who had been elected in 1994, was set on championing a “rainbow nation” in this new post-apartheid era.
Rugby started in England in the late 1800s, and colonizers took it to South Africa, where South Africans of every color embraced the
Legend of the Pirate Queen CHING SHIH: HISTORY’S MOST SUCCESSFUL PIRATE
office of a local governor-general, completely unarmed, and requested full pardons and government jobs for her entire crew— along with permission to keep all their stolen goods. In exchange, she promised to give up piracy for good. Thankful to be free of the Red Flag Fleet, the Chinese government agreed to her terms. Ching Shih’s second husband was even made an officer in the Chinese navy. Ching Shih returned to Canton with her vast wealth and spent the next 34 years living a life of comfort with her family and running a gambling den. In 1844, the legendary pirate queen passed away of old age at 69, a rare feat for pirates of her era.
From Blackbeard to Jack Sparrow, pop culture teems with pirates who frequented the ports of the Caribbean. And while these pirates are well-known for their (sometimes fictional) accomplishments, the most successful pirate in history terrorized the seas of China instead. Her name was Ching Shih. Ching Shih, who was born Shih Yang, was working in a Cantonese brothel when she met the pirate Zheng Yi. He came from a long family of notorious pirates and was impressed by Ching Shih’s cunning. They married in 1801 and built a pirate empire known as the Red Flag Fleet. When Zheng Yi passed away suddenly in 1807, Ching Shih strategically maneuvered her way into leadership, taking control of over 60,000 pirates. Historians describe Ching Shih as a brilliant military strategist, a skilled businesswoman, and a harsh disciplinarian. After taking control of the fleet, Ching Shih implemented a strict code of conduct. The code included rules for distributing booty, protecting female captives, and beheading anyone who disobeyed Ching Shih. Under her rule, the bloody crimes of piracy became a profitable business. The Red Flag Fleet would eventually clash with the British Empire, the Portuguese Empire, and the Qing dynasty of China, but no one could topple the pirate queen.
After almost a decade of pillaging the high seas, Ching Shih decided piracy wasn’t the best retirement plan. In 1810, she walked into the
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TAKE A BREAK
GET MORE BANK FOR YOUR BUCK Take Full Advantage of Your Financial Institution
Whether you’re banking with a credit union or a national giant, your financial institution likely offers more resources, account options, and saving plans than you’re using — or even aware of. As one NerdWallet article puts it, “Banks and credit unions continue to find new ways to both delight and confound customers.” If you focus on the delights, you can get more bang for your buck out of the financial institution you’re already using. Plus, there’s a good chance you’ll pick up new ways to stretch your retirement fund, grow your investments, and pass nest eggs to your grandkids along the way. Take these two easy steps to get started. 1. Get Clicking Even for someone with plenty of internet savvy, bank websites can be intimidating. Most are filled with tabs and portals that overwhelm customers, causing them to limit their interactions to plugging in a username and password to check their balance. Don’t fall into that trap! If you want to get a complete picture of what your bank has to offer, its website is the place to start. Next time you log in, set aside an hour or two to explore the site tab by tab. Take note of products and services you might not be using, like mobile banking apps, 24-hour hotlines, continuing education, and additional account options and their interest rates. Schwab, for example, offers a free online learning center complete with seminars, one-on-one financial advice, and more than 300 informative articles and videos. 2. Schedule a Sit-Down If your bank has a brick-and-mortar location near you, make a point to visit it. While there, take the time to learn about the latest updates from the reading materials on offer, make an appointment with a financial analyst, or speak with a bank teller. It’s in your bank’s interest to see your accounts grow, so representatives are happy to help. If you’ve already explored your bank’s website, this is the time to ask follow-up questions on what you found or make a financial move in a new direction. Whether you’ve decided on a 529 plan or a high-interest checking account, your banking representative can make it happen.
THE BEST LEFTOVER TURKEY SANDWICH
Inspired by FoodNetwork.com
Ingredients
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1/3 cup leftover dressing or stuffing
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2 slices sourdough bread
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2 tbsp Dijon mustard
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2 tbsp leftover gravy
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2 slices Swiss cheese
• 1 tbsp butter, room temperature Note: Don’t worry if you don’t have all the leftovers required.
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1/3 cup shredded leftover turkey
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3 tbsp leftover cranberry sauce
Directions
1. Coat inside of each bread slice withmustard and a slice of cheese. Place turkey and cranberry sauce on one slice and dressing and gravy on the other. 2. Combine sandwich and spread butter on both sides. 3. In a panini maker or large skillet, grill until crispy and golden brown. 4. Slice and serve.
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214.292.4225 www.AaronMillerLaw.com 2301 Ohio Drive, Suite 200 Plano, Texas 75093 INSIDE THIS ISSUE
The Bear That Reminds Me of My Granddad
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The 1995 Rugby World Cup History’s Most Successful Pirate
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The Best Leftover Turkey Sandwich How to Get More From Your Bank
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The Legend of Sergeant Reckless
THE GREATEST AMERICAN WAR HORSE THE LEGEND OF SERGEANT RECKLESS
Sergeant Reckless’ greatest achievement occurred during the final stages of the Battle of Outpost Vegas. During the bloody five-day campaign, Reckless made 51 trips to resupply guns over the course of a single day. By the end of the battle, she had carried 386 rounds of ammunition by walking 35 miles through rice paddies and mountain trails. After dropping off the ammunition, Reckless would then bring wounded soldiers back to safety. Reckless was trained to lie down when under fire and avoid barbed wire, and her ability to do so without needing human command saved many lives during the battle. Reckless would close out her war career with two Purple Hearts and the rank of staff sergeant. She spent the rest of her years at Camp Pendleton in California. To learn more about this legendary mare, be sure to check out “Sgt. Reckless: America’s War Horse” by Robin Hutton.
Animals have acted as companions to humankind for thousands of years. They’re a near-constant source of companionship, comfort, and aid. Unfortunately, military animals don’t often get the recognition they deserve. One horse, in particular, was essential to the success of her regiment during the KoreanWar. Meet Sergeant Reckless. Bought for $250 in 1952 by a U.S. Marine Corps lieutenant at a Seoul racetrack, Sergeant Reckless was trained to carry ammunition for the 5th Marine Regiment. Her name was a play on the“recoilless”rifle ammunition she carried and a nod to the daredevil attitude of the soldiers who used them. Reckless was pivotal for her regiment inmore ways than one. As Robin Hutton notes in her book“Sgt. Reckless: America’sWar Horse,” “Because horses are‘herd’animals, the Marines became her herd. She bonded so deeply with them that Reckless would go anywhere and do anything to help her adopted family.”
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