NEW YEAR, NEW PERSPECTIVES 2023 has arrived, so it’s time to plan for the year ahead and set some resolutions. On Dec. 31, as the clock struck midnight, you likely celebrated the New Year with fireworks, parties, noise makers, the ball drop, music, celebration hats, and confetti. But around the world, not everyone celebrates the same way. Check out some of these traditions others use to ring in the new year! such as Barcelona and Madrid, they gather to eat grapes together in the main squares. Brazil, Ecuador, Venezuela, and Bolivia In these Central and South American Year’s Day, parents wake their children by gently tapping them on the head with the onions. Philippines In the Philippines, people use round NEW YEAR’S TRADITIONS AROUND THE WORLD
shapes to represent coins that symbolize prosperity in the new year. Some even display round fruit, such as grapes, on their dining room table and, like people in Spain, will eat 12 at midnight.
countries, the new year is celebrated with lucky underwear! The most common colors are red,
Colombia Who doesn’t love to travel? In Colombia, many carry an empty suitcase or two around the neighborhood, hoping to bless the coming year with many chances to travel. Spain In Spain, you may catch some natives eating exactly 12 grapes, one for each clock strike once midnight arrives. Each one represents good luck for each month in the new year. In larger cities
intended to welcome love in the upcoming year, and yellow, which is said to bring about prosperity.
Denmark To get rid of evil spirits, the people of
Denmark will throw old plates and glasses against their friends’ and families’ front doors. Then to “leap” into the new year with good luck, they stand on chairs and jump off!
Greece If you were to visit Greece on New Year’s Eve, you might see onions — thought to symbolize rebirth — hanging on the front doors of every home. On New
What New Year’s traditions do you have?
CLIENT PROFILE: BRUCE SHACKELFORD
Our dear friend and longtime client Bruce Shackelford is coming up on the 10-year anniversary of his work injury and our representation. A longtime employee of Klosterman Baking Company, he injured his back while traying and loading stacks of bread. A day later, he could hardly walk and had to leave work after four hours.
every step of the way as we’ve sought approval for treatment. One time, while we were battling over treatment for his depression, the employer presented their smoking gun: a photo of Bruce riding his Harley with his lady on the back. He told the company psychologist he could no longer ride because of his back and yet here was the photo. We got this from the defense attorney on a Friday, three days before the hearing.
I dug a little. It turns out someone in the defense attorney’s office had gone to Bruce’s Facebook page and found the photo. I went to the page and found it, too … five years earlier than when the employer said it was posted. The picture even had the date on it, showing it was taken BEFORE Bruce’s injury; he’d sold the bike a couple years before the defense attorney’s office found the photo.
Ultimately, he underwent several epidurals in his back followed by extensive surgery. He’s had an implanted spinal stimulator and several followup procedures for reprogramming. He walks with a cane and battles the black dog of depression associated with the pain of his injuries and the limitations that result. Along the way, he lost his wife, Mitzy, in 2008 and then his friend, Candy, in 2016. And yet, he always tries to brighten the days of others. Occasionally, Bruce would ride over from Springfield on his beloved Harley to stop in and visit, or bring us Schuler’s donuts. After a while, however, his back got so bad, he had to sell his bike. This led to one of the most satisfying hearings I’ve ever had as an attorney.
Ah, folks, there are times in a lawyer’s life representing someone that are very sweet indeed. Revealing the actual photo with the date taken at the hearing was one of those rare moments. Seeing the hearing officer stare at defense counsel who stammered to explain their underhanded attempt to impugn Bruce’s character is a memory I’ll long cherish. Anyway, our friend is still hanging on. We are working toward obtaining permanent disability or perhaps a settlement if it seems good for him to do so. I wanted to introduce Bruce to you, another of our favorite people.
Hundreds of thousands of dollars have been paid in Bruce’s claim for medical and compensation payments, and his employer has fought him
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