Eve

On the eve of the inauguration, I'm forced to think about a few things. Indulge me.

1. A neighbor of mine was in her car the other day looking pretty sad. My mother approached her to make sure everything was okay. She said she was fine; she was just sad while listening to Bush's farewell address. I'm still perplexed at how an educated person can think he did good things, or at least enough to count on more than one hand. (Preserving some wildlife, and creating a program to help government employees pay off their student loans...that's all I can think of, all of which is vastly outweighed by the 2 wars, unprecedented unemployment and stock market tank, etc.)

2. A new year, another year older. Yes, I had a birthday. I like birthdays, as you must know. But it made me reflect even more than usual. I dyed my hair, I started taking the gym seriously, my weight loss journey continues. I'm also realizing my own mortality. I feel like I'm at the start of something new in my own life, my personal life. No man to speak of, but I don't need a man. Sometimes he would be a nice accessory though.

3. Layoffs are scary. My dad was recently laid off, and it terrifies me. The biggest problem is that I don't know that there's anything I can do to help. While it's total crap, I don't know if there's anything I can do as a lawyer. I doubt it's actionable. I'm going to do a bit more research, but I think it would likely be best for him to sign the waiver and take the crappy 3 weeks severance package.

4. I thought about writing a letter to our incoming president. And I was also thinking about telling off Mrs. Biden. Joe Biden's wife gave a speech in which she stated that Joe Biden was offered his choice of Secretary of State or VP. He chose. Um, that's insulting to Hillary, and I also don't believe it to be true. Frankly, I think Hillary and Obama had a "come to Jesus" meeting the night before Hillary conceded. If anyone got to pick, it was her. So shut your mouth, Mrs. Biden. Hillary would have been a great president, and you should kiss her butt and thank your lucky stars that she did the graceful thing and backed down rather than splitting the ticket.

5. The letter to Obama. I'm not sure what I would say. I could ask him to re-establish the hope and pride that this country once had in excess. I remind him to wear bullet proof everything because he is now the world's largest target, second perhaps only to Osama bin Laden. The reality is that change is scary to everyone, and this kind of change is threatening to some peoples' way of life and jaded ideals. I am scared that some wacko is going to try to harm him, and I would give my own life to make sure that didn't happen.
I would remind him that it is far more important to a thriving society that people get higher education than get into mortgages they can't afford. $18,500 per year is not even half of what law school costs, yet that is the maximum federal loans you can get. Also, I pay about $10,000 per year in interest ALONE on my student loans. I should be able to write off every dime of that. Getting an education is responsible and should be rewarded. Getting in over my head and not being realistic about how much (a) a property is worth, and/or (b) what kind of mortgage I can afford is NOT responsible and should not be rewarded.
Hillary is right about health care. It should be available and affordable. It's not. We need to change that.
There goes that word "change" again. You ran your campaign on it. Keep in mind that the word itself is enough to raise many peoples' blood pressure. But it's necessary. Rip the bandaid off so you can start to help healing the wound. We've been wounded for the last 8 years, and it won't happen over night. Don't be discouraged. We will bitch and moan and complain and resist. We'll plead and cry and try to avoid it. But, like a parent with a child in the dentist's chair, you know it needs to be done, that it will be done, and that we will eventually thank you for it. It's because you love and care about us. Lead us where we need to go.

6. On the eve of my career, I met with a client today. Even though I can't take her case right now, I told her I could help her in a limited way. About a half hour after the meeting, I was in my car and I realized that something amazing happened. A light finally clicked on. I was comfortable advising a client, giving advice, and laying out her options. I was completely prepared to perform some of the tasks I offered her as options. It hit me - I wasn't trying to do what I thought a lawyer would do or say. I WAS the lawyer. It was natural, organic. It was me. It was the first time I was comfortable with that idea. And I'm so lucky. And I'm over the moon that my confidence can start to grow.