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WINTER 2023
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THE ART OF LETTING GO IN A WORLD OF STUFF Living With Less
When is enough enough? Use Less Stuff Day on Nov. 16 — shortly before Black Friday — poses that question to everyone. I’m still figuring out the answers myself and consider myself in my third phase of life when it comes to accumulating possessions. I started as a minimalist by necessity. We all know the stereotype of the broke college student, but the broke law school student takes things to a new level. There were times when I paid for gas not with quarters but with dimes. With my tiny service-industry paychecks, very little was left over. So, whenever I made a purchase, I very carefully considered whether it was how I wanted to spend my money. Then, I graduated and started making more. Like many people, I suddenly found disposable income a little intoxicating. It was slightly embarrassing how I started to spend money and developed new stress over all my choices. Being broke has many disadvantages, but you don’t have to worry about blowing money on new golf clubs you don’t need. As time passed, I realized that having a bunch of new toys wasn’t as fun as I expected. I calmed down considerably, but that doesn’t mean the stuff disappeared. I wouldn’t say I’m a pack rat, but I like being prepared. I think it’s always better to have extra than not enough. Part of it comes with the territory of being an estate planner. We spend our days asking, “What if?” and finding solutions. So, I pack several extra pairs of socks on vacation and put spare clothes in our carry-on in case the airline loses our luggage. And who cares if we have excess food in the deep freezer? From my perspective, it wasn’t hurting anyone. The strategy worked for a while, but then my wife and I moved to a bigger house. Suddenly, there was much more space, and I did a good job filling it. Then, kids came along. At first, we wanted to buy We do our absolute best to give your family our undivided attention when we are working with you. In order to provide the best service and highest quality work to your family, Mr. Rosenbauer does not answer incoming calls, emails, or walk-ins while he is meeting with your family or drafting your estate plan (excluding emergencies). However, we do our best to respond to phone calls and emails promptly. If you need to visit or speak with Mr. Rosenbauer regarding your estate, please call the office to schedule an appointment or a phone conference. That way, we can reserve your spot on our calendar and make sure you receive the attention you deserve. Communication Policy
every product and try every brand. But as the baby items piled up, I developed a new appreciation for minimalism. The clutter can be panic-inducing. I’m not sure how no one has torn an ACL walking through our garage with the five little kid bikes we’ve accumulated for different ages. At the same time, we don’t want to get rid of much. The kids are still growing; our younger son will eventually reuse those bikes. But in the meantime, they’re just sitting. So, I’m instead focusing on myself. Kids need new shoes all the time because they’re constantly growing. But I’ve had the same shoe size for most of my life, so I have far fewer excuses for owning 20 pairs. As the kids grow up and need more stuff, I’ve started finding ways I can cut back. If I own eight pairs of gym shorts but always use the same four pairs, I now see the others just take up space and need to go. As the holidays approach, I’ve also begun to reflect on how lucky I am to have what I do. We always feel like we can have more, but it depends on whom you compare yourself to. My house isn’t a mansion, but it doesn’t need to be. Meanwhile, some people would love to have a single pair of running shorts or one bike for their kids. When I think about it, using less stuff is much easier. I’ll probably always be a “pack an extra pair of socks” kind of guy, but I realize one additional pair is much more reasonable than seven. I’m a work in progress, but I hope to eventually learn to take everything in moderation.
-Nick Rosenbauer
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Transform Power Struggles Into Learning Moments With These Techniques
ask what could happen to them and how they could prevent that. When your child understands that leaving toys out during a storm could damage them, they will realize that putting them away is a good idea. Remember, when children are forced to do something they don’t want to do, they will focus more on being angry at you rather than learning a lesson or new habit. Encouraging them to develop their own conclusions will help them better understand the impact of their decisions. Offer choices and the opportunity to choose. Giving your children choices helps them feel like they have some freedom over what they get to do. Sometimes children refuse to comply with requests because you’ve offered them no other option. If you want your child to clean their room, don’t demand that they do it. Ask what they want
One of the common challenges parents face with their young children is power struggles. When you ask your child to do something, and they refuse, you could spend countless hours and endless energy trying to get them to comply. Sometimes, the more persistent you are, the more resistant they can become. However, several strategies exist to avoid these arguments with your strong-willed kids. Here are two methods you can adapt to fit some common parenting scenarios. Ask critical-thinking questions. Sometimes, kids don’t understand the consequences of their actions — they lack the appropriate problem-solving skills to help them understand why you’re making certain requests. Instead of telling them to do something, ask questions that make them think critically about the situation. If they leave their toys outside before a storm,
to start on first — make the bed, put away their toys, or hang up clothes. Providing alternatives and allowing them to make a choice will not only get the job done faster but will also increase their confidence in knowing you value their opinion. Navigating power struggles with children can be a challenging aspect of parenting. But implementing effective strategies can make a significant difference in maintaining harmony at home. So give these methods a try and watch as your relationship with your child grows.
YOU COULD GET ARRESTED FOR WHAT?!
3 Bizarre Laws That Still Exist
In many cities nationwide, lemonade stands are treated like any other small business — if your child is making money by selling food or beverages, they must abide by food safety regulations and have a business permit or license. Only 14 states don’t require permits for kids to set up lemonade stands! Fortunetelling is only allowed in health care and religious facilities. Many cities worldwide have small businesses that provide services in fortunetelling, astrology, palm readings, tarot cards, evil spirit removal, and other New Age practices. In New Orleans, however, it’s illegal for a business to provide these kinds of services unless you’re in a health care profession or a place of religious worship. Remember, laws are still laws, no matter how silly they are, so do some research online to see if your city has any bizarre mandates you could be breaking right now!
Since the beginning of time, cities, states, countries, and other groups have developed laws to provide structure for their citizens. Many laws of the past are now completely outdated, but they’re still technically legitimate laws! Here are three of the oddest laws still on the books today. Forks and knives are prohibited! In 1961, Gainesville, Georgia, passed a law that made eating fried chicken with anything other than your hands illegal. The ordinance was a publicity stunt to advertise Gainesville as the poultry capital of the world. Although the rule isn’t taken literally and is hardly enforced, 91-year-old Ginny Dietrick received a citation for eating fried chicken with a fork and knife in 2009. The practical joke made everyone in the restaurant, including Ginny, laugh and play along. Ginny’s punishment for breaking the law was that she could not leave her table until she mastered the proper way of eating Southern fried chicken.
You must have a permit to set up a lemonade stand. At least once in your life, you’ve either seen or operated a lemonade stand. This longstanding rite of passage teaches kids the value of working hard to earn their own money, so how could this simple tradition be considered illegal?
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TAKE A BREAK
3 Crazy History Facts Your Textbooks Failed to Mention
Did your high school history class bore you to death? If so, don’t blame the past — blame your textbooks. Here are three crazy historical moments we wish made it into their pages!
USPS once mailed babies! During the early years
of the U.S. Postal Service, the rules and regulations of what you could and couldn’t mail were vague. People started testing its limits by sending eggs, bricks, snakes, and babies. In 1913, an Ohio couple took
BUTTERNUT SQUASH RISOTTO
advantage of USPS’s new parcel services to mail a special package — their infant son. The family paid 15 cents for the
stamps plus an unknown amount to insure the baby for $50 and shipped him to his grandmother’s house (about a mile away). And this isn’t the only instance of someone mailing their child. From 1913–1915, seven families used the USPS to ship their infants to a relative. People rented pineapples to appear wealthy. In the Georgian era, pineapples were rare in Europe — you could only acquire this fruit by importing them from the Caribbean. Due to their exotic appearance and rarity in Europe, pineapples quickly became a luxury and high-class symbol. Many would carry a pineapple with them to give off the impression of holding wealth. However, lots of people couldn’t afford pineapples, so they began renting them! If you wanted to rent this luxurious fruit, it would cost you $8,000 in today’s money. Austrian vs. Austrian? Seven months into the Austro-Turkish War, the infamous Battle of Karánsebes caused hundreds of injuries and casualties to the Austrian army. Because their military force consisted of people from several cultures and ethnicities, confusion ensued on the battlefield. One Austrian group accidentally fired at another Austrian group, and because both groups spoke different languages and wore different uniforms, they didn’t realize they were fighting a full-out battle with their own army!
Inspired by FeastingAtHome.com
Ingredients
• 1/2 tsp salt • 1/4 tsp pepper • 1/2 tsp nutmeg • 5 cups veggie or chicken stock • 2 to 3 handfuls spinach • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
• 2 cups butternut squash, cubed • 4 tbsp olive oil, divided • 2 cups sliced leeks • 4 garlic cloves, chopped • 8 sage leaves • 1 cup Arborio rice
Directions 1. Preheat oven to 400 F. On a parchment-lined sheet pan, toss squash with 2 tbsp olive oil. Roast until tender (30 minutes) and set aside 2. In a Dutch oven, heat 2 tbsp olive oil over medium heat and add leeks. Sauté until tender, then add garlic and sage. Sauté for 2 more minutes. 3. Add rice and sauté for 1 minute, stirring. Add salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Add 1–2 cups of stock to cover the rice and bring to a simmer. Cook until the liquid is absorbed. Continue to add broth 1 cup at a time, stirring occasionally until rice is plump (20 minutes). Stir in spinach, roasted squash, and Parmesan cheese.
Who knew history had so many strange twists?
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Nick’s Thoughts on Minimalism, Materialism, and Moderation
1
Say Goodbye to Power Struggles With Kids
2
3 Bizarre Laws That Still Exist
Butternut Squash Risotto
3
USPS Allowed You to Mail Babies?!
Did Ed Sheeran Really Copy Marvin Gaye?
4
SHEERAN VS. TOWNSEND: THE VERDICT IS IN Ed Sheeran Faces Accusations of Copying 'Let's Get It On'
During the court hearings, Sheeran attended in person and even performed live mashups of countless hit songs bearing similar chord progressions and rhythms. The musician’s testimony stated, “If I had done what you’re accusing me of doing, I’d be quite an idiot to stand on a stage in front of 20,000 people and do that.” On May 4, 2023, a jury found Sheeran not guilty of copying “Let’s Get It On,” and the songwriter was at last free from the lawsuit. Despite the longstanding legal dispute, Sheeran and the Townsend heirs resolved the issue amicably, as the trial had proved to the family that Sheeran did not intend to copy the hit classic. Ed Townsend’s daughter, Kathryn Townsend Griffin, later said, “I’m just glad it’s over,” and that the lawsuit was never personal but, instead, a result of her efforts to protect her father’s legacy.
The lawsuit was filed in July 2017 and was only resolved in 2023. Sheeran wasn’t being sued for outright copying the R&B classic but for replicating the “heart” of the song and the “harmonic progressions” and “melodic and rhythmic elements.” Of course, Sheeran denied these allegations and insisted that the song is based on common building blocks for all pop music, which are in no way legally protected. While Sheeran asserted this was merely a similarity many pop songs share, Townsend’s attorney and civil rights figure Ben Crump declared, “For far too long, Black artists have created, inspired, and spread music all around the world, and Ed Townsend’s family believes Mr. Sheeran’s infringement of a Black artist is merely another example of [white] artists exploiting the genius and the work of Black singers and songwriters.”
Sometimes, a song can feel similar to another, but when is it so similar that a songwriter needs to be sued? Well, Ed Sheeran faced the legal heat from the family of Ed Townsend after they claimed Sheeran’s hit song “Thinking Out Loud” was far too similar to Marvin Gaye’s classic song “Let’s Get It On,” which was written and composed by Townsend.
Photo: Harald Krichel
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