Harbinger

The other day I was taking a lovely walk in the Denver area, and I was unusually observant of my surroundings.  I saw a butterfly, I felt strong winds, and I saw a squirrel cliff-hanging from a screen door.

That last one was mostly just funny.

Did you know that butterflies are given symbolic meaning all over the world?  The Chinese view butterflies as a symbol of long life, the Japanese say the butterfly represents marital bliss, and oddly enough the German view is that butterflies are associated with witches trying to steal cream.  Think of that what you will.  Going back to ancient Greece, they thought that butterflies contained the souls of those who had passed away.

The Native Americans had a profound respect for wind.  Specifically, they believed the wind to be a living force in and of itself.  The wind is a god – a power that is capable of communicating a larger-than-life language to those who would hear it. Those who were certifiably authorized to interpret these cosmic messages were shamans, medicine men, and the wise and spiritual leaders among tribes.

Oddly enough, I just found that squirrels do have some symbolic meaning.  “When the squirrel comes into our lives it is often a message for us to have more fun, and take life a little less seriously.”  That makes sense I guess, considering what the squirrel I saw was doing.

I’m not a firm believer in signs, in that I’m not a person who typically goes about her day looking at ordinary things and wondering what they portend.  I tend to just try to enjoy my surroundings, and laugh at crazy squirrels.  I do however, believe that certain people/things can be harbingers.  For instance, I think that the practice Bar Exam I took on Thursday was a harbinger…it foretold the sheer overwhelming amount of work I have to do this summer in order to pass this thing.  I also think that people can be unintentional harbingers.  One person’s simple statement can set the tone for an entire night without their conscious knowledge of doing so.  They are the harbinger of a certain mood.  I have also experienced a person making a prediction that eventually came true — although I think a lot of that has to do with the power of suggestion.

Anywho, since we are all able to interpret things as we like, here is my interpretation of my recent personal harbingers:  A lot is changing in my life, and despite the sheer amount of work I have to do this summer I will still manage to have some fun.  There will also be a witch that tries to steal my cream.

Peripatetic Nomad

I have found an alternative career path in the event that the one I am currently on totally backfires.

I think previous posts have made it clear that I just graduated from law school.  As of last Saturday, I can officially add J.D. to my credentials.  What is unfortunate is that instead of the simple “congratulations!” that one would normally receive after such an accomplishment, the exclamation is quickly followed by a question.  Even more unfortunate is that the question is “Do you have a job yet?”  Seems innocent enough, I know.  But consider that 85% of my graduating class does not yet have employment in the legal field.  Now reconsider the innocence of that question.  It is like a knife to the heart every time someone politely (but I think secretly with no small amount of venom) inquires about job prospects.  I am perhaps even more prone to this type of inquisition as I am making the illogical choice to move across the country despite not having obtained a job yet.

This is why I am considering alternatives.

This morning I am loading up a U-Haul trailer and tomorrow will head out for yet another place to live.  After filling out my Bar Application, I have become painfully aware of all my moves.  When I head out tomorrow, I will be moving to my 19th residence over the course of 7 years.  It won’t be my last.

Reviewing this type of moving behavior made me consider myself a nomad this morning, so I decided to look it up to make sure I was correctly describing myself.  Turns out I was mostly right, and I also stumbled on an even better kind of nomad, the peripatetic nomad.  The world still contains nomadic communities, and there are even different kinds.  The peripatetic one moves around among settled populations offering a craft or trade.  I figure that pretty much applies to me.  If nothing else, I can knit stuff…that’s gotta be worth something right?  Could be a great way to see the country too, traveling around with a band of nomads.  Over the last 7 years, I think I have proved I tend to live a more nomadic lifestyle than anything.  I may even be able to offer legal advice…oh wait.  I need to pass the Bar still.  Ugh.

Maybe I’ll keep looking, I mean, “peripatetic nomad” is such a long title.  And when you break down the word “peri – patetic” it kind of sounds like “semi – pathetic”.  Nobody wants that.  So I guess I’ll try for a little while to make this lawyer thing work.  Wish me luck!

Law’s Life Lessons

I am one final away from freedom…in a figurative sense.  Wednesday morning, I will take my last law school final and presuming I pass it I will be graduating from law school.  The freedom will only be in my head, and will be fleeting because I will almost immediately have to start studying for the Bar Exam, but freedom of any kind is still worth celebrating, right?

Okay, so the other day my sister and I were having a conversation regarding a recent soap opera turned reality for one of her friends.  The short of it is that this friend recently dumped a guy, and the guy took it very badly.  Psychotic meltdown bad.  My sister (who graduated from law school last year) got to a point in the story where her friend was exclaiming that this guy was threatening to inflict harm upon himself, which he had left in the form of voice mails.  Her friend proudly deleted all of his messages without listening to most of them after she broke things off.

At this point in the story, I interjected.  Can you guess why?  This is the topic of today’s blog, and a lesson that I hope I can impart on all of you.  The part of that story that I found ridiculous was not that her ex was making threats, or that he left them in the form of voice mail (although that seems less effective as far as threats go)….NO, my problem was that she DELETED his voice mails at all.

Law school 101:  Ladies and gents, that voice mail is called EVIDENCE.  It appears that most people outside of legal training treat scraps of paper and messages left on their answering machines as easily discarded items.  I am hear to tell you that you are wrong if you are in that category of people.  Specifically when something that you possess has the potential to verify your side of things in the event that things go terribly terribly wrong.

Now, I know that from this girl’s point of view, these voice messages are painful reminders of the psycho she let go.  From an emotional standpoint, it makes sense to get rid of painful reminders.  I caution you to check your emotions at the door when the sh*t hits the fan!  Yes, in a way this takes a “worst-case scenario” perspective, but I am telling you that you will be kicking yourself when your lawyer asks if you have any proof and you have to say “no, it hurt my heart so I threw it away.”  Your bank account is what will hurt next.  Or worse.

So the next time you are in a car accident, instead of getting pissy and making a scene, check yourself.  Whip out your digital camera or camera phone and take pictures of the scene, of the damage to both cars.  If anyone is around that saw the accident, ask them for their info.  Obviously get the other person’s information.  Definitely inform the police of the situation.

The next time a stalker contacts you, don’t just ignore them.  Keep those documents and whatever else stalkers send.  You’ll need them in order to get that much needed restraining order.  Not to mention you might be able to prevent escalation.

The more proactive you can be the better.  The next time you break up with a guy and he becomes psychotic, check yourself.  Keep those keepsakes of craziness until you can walk into your friendly attorney’s office and say “DO SOMETHING!”  Its what we’re there for.