Retrenchment?

I have mixed, sometimes pretty low class, taste in books. At B&N last week, there was a book on the "bargain" table, a humor book by "Larry The Cable Guy," a self-professed redneck comedian. He explains that he has copyrighted the phrase "Git-R-Done," which he explains as a comment on a "blue collar work ethic," that the people in the trenches have to do distasteful things all the time, and just have to "git-r-done."

I was in depositions all morning in a case I pretty much have down cold. (A deposition is testimony in a case taken before a court reporter, and a transcript is made which can be used later if need be.) My client is a really nice "good ol' boy" who was well prepared, so it was a fairly low-stress event. So as I was sitting there, drinking the big firm's coffee, my mind wandered to this "git-r-done" concept, and whether it is indeed exclusively a blue collar thing. It was an interesting place to consider this. I was in one of the many locations of the law firm of Steptoe & Johnson, a large firm in WV and DC. You walk back a BIG ass bronze sign when you enter their offices, and the offices are tastefully decorated (I guess - what do I know about decor?) This is an old firm, founded in the 20's by a couple of fellows including Louis A. Johnson, who was a snappy dresser and very odd guy who was Harry S Truman's Secretary of Defense. The opposing lawyer was a young guy, maybe 30, starched & pressed, the muted power tie, typical associate at a big defense firm, but a very nice guy for all of that. As my mind wandered, it went to the same old question, "who am I?", in this case, why does this so-called blue collar ethic sound valid to me? Hell, I read lots of business books, and do I find some sort of basic truth from a redneck comedian?

I started working in law offices when I was a senior in high school, doing coal titles in county record rooms. That involves going through records of deeds and other documents to determine who owned the coal under various parcels of real estate. It was exacting work, and for a kid in the early 70's, I was making really good money. I kept working in law offices right through to today, and have met all sorts of people who have been important to me. I did work for Frank Sansalone and Al Lemley, and they taught me litigation and going all out for a client in a case. During law school, I worked at a firm headed by Mr. Furbee, who was in semi-retirement. We would both come early to work, and I spent a lot of time sitting in the break room drinking coffee with him and learning his way of analyzing cases. The second day after I "came to the bar," I attended Mr. Furbee's funeral.

The idea of "git-r-done" is wholly consistent with the way I practice. Perhaps it is about a blue collar work ethic. If so, I guess that makes me a blue collar lawyer, one in the trenches dealing with real people. I like to do that, I wouldn't like to represent "things." This whole idea of maybe being an older fellow bothers me - I still feel like a youngster, I still have lots to learn. I have had protege's of my own, I suppose. One, Carol M., went on to become a really good medical malpractice defense lawyer. Another, Vanessa R., is in private practice here in town. She just finished representing my "second father," Jim M., in a divorce. I was uncomfortable this week as she said that some of the stuff she learned from me helped get the case to a favorable conclusion. I'm proud of her, she's a blue collar lawyer, too. Then there's Pam F., a former divorce client who went to law school, partly because of her experience in that case. In a Supreme Court case last month, we were dead last on the argument docket, so we sat in the back of this cavernous courtroom and I gave her a running patter of my take on what the Court was doing with the different cases. She called me today and thanked me for that, since she got a call from the Court that she had won her case. (Oh, full disclosure - I got a call from the Court, too - I lost my appeal. I think that the gunslinger-judge talked the "swing" justice into the State's position. Oh, "gunslinger" is not a pejorative, it means a tough judge.)

There is dignity in the blue collar world, in the trenches. Someone has to clean the toilets, and that is dignified work when it is done with a willing heart. (I cleaned the toilet at No. 3 today, I hope with a willing heart.)

So, I'll accept being a blue collar guy, and even risk being thought of as a redneck.

Certainly, life in a small town or the country is different than some of you guys who live in true cities. Blu mentioned the long walk from her parking spot to her residence. Doesn't happen here - It's very unusual to have to park more than 20 or 30 yards from your front door, or more than 1/4 mile from your workplace.

My "second father's" case was in front of my best friend, Dave, the Family Court Judge. We talk lots, go to coffee often, and he had been told that I was going to testify in the case. When I was sworn to testify, both he and I were trying to suppress smiles, because he could tell that I had a joke on my mind. (What was on my mind was that when he asked if I would "tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth," I should reply, "Yes, unless I can think of something funnier.") Believe it or not, he and I had spoken not one word about the case at any time before that hearing. That would be soooooo improper, and Dave is a man of great honor. I warned Vanessa, too, that having me appear in any way in a case in front of Dave automatically gives the other side a field goal, so that he is scrupulously fair.

Some unpleasant things are on my mind this week. I need a makeover, or a retrenchment. I've been talking to friends I respect and in some instances getting my ass kicked by them - which is good, kicking someone's ass because you love them is an extraordinarily loving thing to do. So - I just gotta git-r-done.

A quiet evening at Casa Elu. Son Tim is out all weekend at his first vehicle extrication class, and is really happy that he gets to cut up cars with power tools all weekend. Ah, the memories. He took his first inter-hospital transfer of a neo-natal last night on midnight shift, and said that he realizes now the inevitable worry about dealing with a sick little baby.

So, it's time to read a while. I promise to write the Irregular Quarterly Canon over the weekend - I've read some great books in the 3rd quarter.

Mizpah.

R