Nick’s Walk

When asked “Are you a lover or a fighter?” I don’t have a pat answer. I guess it depends on where I am in life. I know I’m a lover when it comes to those close to me: my wife of 52 years, my daughter, my granddaughters, and my great-grandkids. But that’s easy. Those are easy to love. In my eyes, they are beautiful and precious. Loving them doesn’t seem justification to crown me a lover. In fact, those relationships would also seem to qualify me as a fighter. Mess with just one of them, and see. I suppose to some groups I may be one or the other. I like to think my clients and the legal opposition consider me a fighter. The folks at church would probably vote more for a lover, I hope. I suppose most of my acquaintances don’t know enough about me to put me in either category. The baristas at Jet or Starbucks based on my witty comments and “generous” tips, think I’m a pretty funny good customer…no love or fight there. I’m not sure what my associates at The Gachassin Firm think. They are lawyers or lawyer-like so I don’t trust what […]

When you think of “church” do you envision a building you go to on Sundays? You know the place. It’s where you go dressed slightly better than you dress during the week. You sit in a group, all facing the same way. You are looking in the same direction so you can see and hear better. You are an observer, a listener. When you think about it, it’s much like going to a movie, a concert, or a town hall meeting. It’s a lot like being in school. You are there to watch and learn. Your participation may include singing along, dropping something in the collection basket, and responding to verbal clues as is customary in your “denomination.” Frankly, your “participation” is minimal and mostly scripted. Modern church is essentially a “school.” It’s participation principally through observation. During the pandemic, many churchgoers learned they could “go to church” without leaving their homes. More dramatically, they learned they could have a “better” “church” experience virtually. From the comfort of their homes, they could dress more comfortably than they did during the week. They could “church” while reading the Sunday paper and having a leisurely breakfast. They could choose from many […]

Is it “legal” to use letter size paper in legal matters, such as pleadings. Now to the non-legal mind, the answer would seem simple: For legal stuff, use legal paper. What makes legal size paper “legal?” The federal courts abandoned “legal” size paper decades ago. We all know that the feds are smarter than everyone else. The bar should have simply followed along. But apparently that hasn’t happened. I was told this week, “All pleadings that leave this office have to be on legal paper.” I have filed pleadings on “letter” paper for years, thus I was a bit offended by this and, more so, by the follow up, “You should start drafting in legal.” Well, let’s get this straight. In decades of filing on letter paper I have had only I pleading rejected. That was by a court in North Louisiana. Enough said? Last time I was in court in North Louisiana I think the judge was wearing a powdered wig and spoke like Shakespeare. The first time I had opposition to my letter sized filings came from the infamous J. Minos Simon. When I filed on letter sized paper in a case with Minos, he filed a […]

Why are you afraid? Notice I didn’t ask if you were afraid. I assumed fear in you. That’s a fair assumption. Although fear is often denied, most are afraid of something. There’s lots to be afraid of. Here are just the “top ten”: Change. Loneliness Failure Rejection Uncertainty Something Bad Happening Getting Hurt Being judged Inadequacy Loss of freedom Admit it. At least one of the above is something you think about. You might not admit that it’s something you fear, but that’s okay. Denial is not just a river in Egypt. Jesus often said, “Fear not” or words to that effect. In one case, he gave us a clue as to how to accomplish that. Before he calmed the sea for the frightened disciples, he asked, “Why are you afraid?” Matthew 8:23-27. Then He calmed the sea. “The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!” Jesus spoke through his actions: “There is no need to fear. I am here.” The answer to fear, is Jesus. Consider those top 10 fears: Change. We fear change because we’ve become comfortable where we are. Life may not be perfect, […]

I guess the best test of a vacation is how you feel about coming home. I have had vacations that I didn’t want to end. I had a great time on those occasions and wasn’t ready to get back to the real world. Sounds like a great vacation, but such are vacation failures. Shouldn’t a great vacation make you eager to get back to your real life? Vacations shouldn’t end with regret but thankfulness. I just had a great vacation. Yesterday while still in Texas I asked Siri for some “Great American Food” suggestions. She came back with eleven Mexican restaurants and one barbeque joint. That’s how you know you’re in Texas. The food back home is better. I have lived in multiple locations mainly during 11 years in the Navy and 27 months in Gainesville for law school. There is good food everywhere but Acadiana food is the best. Can’t wait to get back to it. Looking for bluebonnets in Texas was fun and when found they are beautiful. They don’t, however, match the gorgeousness of Louisiana Azaleas. I have those in my own yard. I’ve mentioned watching the sunrise in the hill country of Texas. That was […]

After the first day of our vacation, I posted a summary. In case you missed it, you can catch it here. This might have led you to believe I would be doing so daily. Foolish you. I am a lawyer on vacation. Do you really have positive expectations? Grow up. There have been some interesting happenings that I would like to share. Many will make you glad you didn’t go on vacation. The Honda Remote Adventure One morning I decided to be productive while my traveling companions slept. They do that a lot. I had been getting a message from my Honda Pilot that the remote battery was low. We looked in the owner’s manual to determine what should be done. It was no help at all. I googled “Replace Honda Remote Battery” and, at least found out what battery was needed to make the replacement. I found the replacement at Walmart. (There is nothing worth having that can’t be found at Walmart.) I googled “How to change the battery in a Honda Pilot Remote.” I was not amazed at all when a YouTube video appeared with all (I thought) directions. I followed the directions on remote 1 and […]

We leased a Honda Pilot nearly two years ago since it seemed a great vehicle for the traveling Rosemary and I planned for our retirement years. We took the 15,000 miles a year option to accommodate all the driving we were planning. Nearly two years later we barely logged 15,000 miles. It took us two years to drive what we expected to do in one. You can blame COVID, my unexpected return to the Gachassin Law Firm, or some nagging medical problems, but enough is enough and I was determined to get to the traveling. Our first adventure had to be sufficiently rewarding to coax us on to more and yet not so taxing that the enthusiasm was not beaten out of us. I saw an article somewhere about Bluebonnets in Texas and realized it was nearly the peak time for bloom browsing. My wife was enthusiastic. After a quick glance at my calendar, I noted that the first full week of April was clear… nothing legal and nothing medical, a sure sign from God. We decided to invite Rose’s sister Donnah to come along. Rose said, “she won’t come.” I am not sure if it was a prediction […]

I have written this blog for many years. Today I recalled that I hadn’t posted in a while. Turns out I last posted on July 17, 2021. At times I posted daily, but not for years. I have never gained fame or fortune by blogging, but I have gotten a lot of satisfaction – kind of a public confessional at times and a Soap Box on other occasions. I’ve missed the peace achieved in the exercise, so I’m back. I have become a part of Gachassin Law Firm . The firm is at least partially to blame for my infrequent blogging. It has, however, been fun to be practicing with very professional attorneys and staff. Most of my career I practiced “extreme” solo, meaning I didn’t even have a secretary. It’s amazing to be fully supported. I don’t know how prolific I will be, but if I am absent and you miss me you are certainly welcome to review the years of past posts. I appreciate comments, well most comments. Of course, keep in mine that this blog consists of my personal thoughts and not those of my wife, daughter, grandchildren or great grandchildren and certainly not of my […]