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MAY 2023
A few years ago, I was sitting in church on Mother’s Day when one of the women in our congregation did something brave. She stood in front of God and everybody and said, “You know what — I don’t really like Mother’s Day.” A BETTER WAY TO CELEBRATE MOMS I’M DONE WITH MOTHER’S DAY!
John when he came home from church on Mother’s Day holding a tiny flower he’d grown in a Styrofoam cup.
For years after that, even when Mom wasn’t available, I took the kids to the gardening center, and they picked out flowers or herbs to plant for me. Now that they’re older, my favorite gifts are still gifts of their time. I love it when Zach and his girlfriend meet me for dinner or when Jessica is in town and sits with me in church on Mother’s Day, even though we go to different churches. Even though my kids are grown and I’m remarried now, I can’t help but think of single moms like my younger self every Mother’s Day. My heart goes out to them and to mothers and children with strained relationships, people who have lost a child, people who want to be moms but can’t be, and people who mother other people’s children. When do we celebrate them? How do they feel when all the Mother’s Day cards appear in the dollar store? Should we keep the Hallmark version of Mother’s Day even though it leaves them out? I think the best way to celebrate our moms and all the people we love is to focus on them regularly throughout the year instead of on a single day. I call my mom on Mother’s Day, but I also call her several times a week, whether Mother’s Day is on the horizon or not. If we go two or three days without a phone call, she worries about me — and I think that’s how it should be! It’s about time we give Mother’s Day a makeover. If you feel as “done” with the Hallmark version as I do, I hope you’ll try my strategy. I think it’s the best way to handle this sensitive topic and keep all kinds of moms happy.
I couldn’t believe it! She had just said exactly what I was thinking. My first thought was, “Wow, I’m not the only one.”
I’ve had a problem with the Hallmark version of Mother’s Day for years. You know the pitch: On Mother’s Day, Mom finally gets a day to herself. Everyone is pleasant to her, and she doesn’t have to cook, do housework, or spend the whole day on kid duty. Dad even takes her out to dinner! But how does that work for a single mom? I never thought about it until I got divorced. Suddenly, I had the kids on Mother’s Day, and their dad had them on Father’s Day — so, of course, I couldn’t sneak off to go shoe shopping or skip all of the housework. No one else would take care of things if I didn’t step up. I don’t mean to sound ungrateful. Over the years, my kids have gotten me some wonderful Mother’s Day gifts — often with help from their grandma. One year, she took them to a garden supply place to pick out a boatload of red flowers. They came back to the house and surprised me by planting them! I have a black thumb, so the gesture meant a lot. My mom got the idea from
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KEEP IT COOL! WASH COLD TO SAVE THE PLANET
Every home has a few appliances that are habitual climate-crisis offenders, and washing machines are usually at the top of the list. However, we understand that washing machines aren't going anywhere anytime soon — they're too convenient. Luckily, one thing anyone can do to benefit the environment while using their washing machine is to use cold water! If you didn't know, about 90% of a washing machine's energy goes toward heating the water, resulting in a more expensive energy bill and increased carbon emissions. Carbon emissions are "the main driver of climate change and associated extreme weather, which will affect climate for thousands of years through polar ice loss, ocean warming, and sea level rise," according to the World Meteorological Organization. So, if helping the environment is on your laundry list, an easy way to start is by switching your washer settings to cold water. The best part is that you can still run warm wash cycles occasionally if you need the sanitation benefits. According to the American Cleaning Institute, washing 4 out of 5 7 Ways to Make Your Strolls Safer WALKING IS MORE DANGEROUS THAN YOU THINK! Almost 20 pedestrians were hit and killed by cars every day in 2021. That’s the most deaths we’ve seen in 40 years! Whether you're pushing a cart through the Walmart parking lot or taking a morning run on the sidewalk, you should always be on high alert to avoid careless drivers. Here are seven ways to make your travel on foot a little safer. 1. Keep your phone in your pocket. Distracted walking is just as dangerous as distracted driving! If you’re texting while you walk through a parking lot, you won’t notice a car heading straight for you on its beeline to a parking spot. Who do you think will win that fight? Not you, that’s for sure!
loads on cold-water settings can reduce carbon emissions by 864 pounds a year. To put those numbers into perspective, that's the equivalent of planting 0.37 acres of forest! Aside from the carbon emissions, washing your clothes in cold water has also been proven to reduce the number of microfibers released into the water system. Microfibers are tiny fibers that fall off every time we wash our clothes. These little threads are dangerous to small aquatic organisms that may eat them, and they also release toxic chemicals into our oceans over time. For those that need a more practical push towards sustainability, cold water washes are often better for your clothes too. Washing your clothes in cold water can help them last longer and avoid shrinkage or colors from fading. So, the next time you toss your dirty clothes into the washing machine, set the dial to cold. The environment, your energy bill, and your clothing will thank you! roadside and keep you from blending into the background. If they see you, they can swerve to avoid you! 3. Don’t wear headphones (at least not in both ears). A great playlist might help you exercise but can also drown out the sound of cars heading your way. Use just one headphone or avoid them entirely. 4. Exercise in well-lit areas. Plan your morning or late-night run on streets with sidewalks and plenty of streetlamps. You’re safer if drivers can see you clearly. 5. Always use sidewalks and crosswalks. They’re there for a reason! Jaywalking puts you in unnecessary danger, and the risk isn’t worth it. 6. Obey crosswalk signals — even when they’re frustrating. Wait at the crosswalk for the sign that it’s safe to cross. If you don’t do this and a driver hits you, they can claim you’re at fault for ignoring the signal. 7. Make eye contact with drivers. If you’re crossing at a crosswalk or strolling through a parking lot, make eye contact with drivers before you walk in front of their cars to ensure they see you coming.
We recommend sharing these tips with your friends and family. The more people who walk safely, the better! Of course, if they still end up in a pedestrian accident, they can call our firm at (502) 771-1529 for a free case evaluation.
2. Wear bright or reflective clothes while walking at night. This will help drivers see you on the
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BARKS WITH BELLA My Last Walk Was a Total Disaster! Is there anything in the world worse than baths? I don’t think so! They’re total torture, especially when Mom and Dad get shampoo in my eyes. I try my best to jump out of the bathtub before the shampooing starts, but with Mom holding my collar and Dad soaping me down, I never manage to escape.
HAVE A LAUGH!
I had to endure that torture a few weeks ago after one of my walks with Dad went wrong. At first, it was great — it was a clear, cold night, and my tail was wagging like crazy. Then
I smelled something even more amazing: a skunk!
INGREDIENTS
I know skunks are mean, but I still want to roll in that smell. I can’t help it! The second it hit my nose, I took off down the road. I just wanted to be friends, but the skunk wasn’t having it. He stuck up his tail and sprayed me right in the mouth.
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1/2 lb sharp yellow cheddar cheese, grated
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
2 tsp horseradish
1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1/2 tsp dry mustard 5 tbsp mayonnaise
It was terrible . Skunks sure smell good, but I’ve never tasted anything so foul. I tried my best to spit out the stink, but it didn’t work — then Dad dragged me back home for a bath! Skunk baths are even worse than regular baths. First, Mom and Dad rubbed me all over with smelly, soapy stuff (Mom says it’s 1/4 cup baking soda, 2 tsp Dawn dish soap, and 1 quart of peroxide) and made me stand there all wet and sudsy for a whole five minutes. Then, they rinsed me off and lathered me again with “de-skunking shampoo.” I tried my best to get away but no luck. By the time they were done, my mouth tasted better. But I didn’t have any good skunk smell left! I like walking on the road with Dad, but after my skunk encounter, I plan to stay home for a while. It’s better anyway — I can roam free without a leash, and when Dad gets distracted working on the car, I can sneak next door to run around with the horses. I just have to watch out for poop piles. If I step on one, I’ll end up right back in the bathtub!
3 tbsp chopped marinated roasted red pepper
16 slices firm white bread
DIRECTIONS
WE WANT YOU TO THINK OF US AS YOUR LAW FIRM. If you have a legal matter that needs attention, let us know. If we can’t handle the matter, we will refer you to a firm that can. Please feel free to refer us to your friends and family for their legal needs. We welcome the opportunity to help. 1. In a medium bowl, stir together cheese, cayenne pepper, horseradish, Worcestershire sauce, dry mustard, and mayonnaise. 2. Blend half the mixture in a food processor until smooth. Transfer back to bowl, add roasted red pepper, and stir to combine. 3. Trim crusts from white bread. Spread pimento cheese on half the slices. Top with remaining bread. 4. Cut sandwiches into diagonal quarters.
Wishing you safe walks and friendly skunks,
-Bella -Bella
call or text (502) 771-1LAW (1529)
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6100 DUTCHMANS LN. STE. 601 LOUISVILLE, KY 40205
INSIDE
WHY MELISSA IS ANTI-MOTHER’S DAY 1 SAVE ENERGY, YOUR CLOTHES, AND THE PLANET
MUST-KNOW SAFETY TIPS FOR WALKING NEAR CARS 2 BELLA’S WORST WALK EVER KENTUCKY DERBY PIMENTO- CHEESE SANDWICHES 3
POTBELLIED PIG TERRIFIES BURGLARS 4
A HAM-FISTED ATTEMPT AT ROBBERY
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,
would never hurt anyone. Some fabricated web stories made Ludwig sound more dangerous than he is, so Maughan spoke to the Toronto Star to dispute any defamations against Ludwig’s kindness.
INTRUDERS FLEE FROM LUDWIG THE PIG
“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!
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
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