February 19, 1994 -- Meeting Woody
Woody Harrelson came to Finkleman Auditorium on the campus of Miami-Middletown to do a play for someone who had been his teacher many years ago. I can't say I remember too much what the play was about. But there was a big reception afterward, and we got our picture taken with him.
By this time Woody was two years removed from his seven-year stint on Cheers. He had just finished a movie with Robert Redford and Demi Moore, Indecent Proposal. So, yeah, this was a pretty big deal.
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March 10, 1994 -- "We've Gotta' Get Out Of This Place"
I had worked hard for several months to get my client Jerry B. from going back to prison. He was on probation for a felony, and one of the terms was to quit smoking pot, and try as he must, he could never kick the habit. So when I woke up that morning, I knew we were to face Judge Fedders at 8:45 a.m. and the chances of the judge cutting him a break were slim.
Jerry accepted his fate better than I did.
But right after Court I called Kim to tell her to start moving appointments. We were taking Adam to Disney World. I would make the calls and make the arrangements -- whatever was necessary.
We would leave on March 24, driving our new white Jeep Cherokee. As it turned out, Doug and Kathy Zink were there at the same time, with Brittany, and it became the vacation we all needed.
Adam survived what he called Bloody Murder Mountain.
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August 23, 1994 -- "Kirby, if I EVER see you out..."
My client was charged with aggravated menacing, which is to threaten another person with serious bodily harm. And, in point of fact, my client did make that very threat. But my argument that evening in a trial in the Franklin Municipal Court was that my client was sitting in his car, without a weapon, with no present intention of doing harm to the guy was stopped to talk to.
Instead, he was just sending a general message, "If I EVER catch you out, and you're looking for trouble like the last time, I promise you I'll kill you."
The judge agreed that my client was no expressing a serious threat at that moment. Accordingly, the judge found him not guilty.
As I walked out of the courtroom, the "victim" asked me to hold up a second. "You did a nice job in there," he said. And then he winked. "But don't get too confident. If I EVER catch out late at night in my neighborhood, you better watch yourself." He chuckled as he finished his statement. He was not serious. He was just having a little fun with me.
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October 15, 1994 -- My Worst Day Became My Best Day
I was at my desk, at the Kirby office next door to the Donut Haus, talking with a divorce client. In the years that followed, he would be one of my best clients -- someone who loved and trusted me, But at around 10:30 that Friday morning, he was madder than hell. Judge Flannery had just ordered him to pay spousal support in the amount of $1,500.00 per month, a total of $18,000.00 per year, when his gross income was $54,000.00 per year.
He said all the things most people say when they are hit with a large spousal support order. How is this fair? How does that judge expect me to live? Why do I get punished for putting up with her as long as I have? I had no answers. I hung up the phone exasperated. There is no worse feeling.
But then Kim called.
Was I sitting down? She was on her way to the hospital, because her friend Amy Nelson had just given birth to her second daughter, Rebecca. But she had some other news.
And it brightened my whole day. She was pregnant.
November 8, 1994 -- Dad Was Still A Winner
Truth be known, Dad would have hated being judge of the Warren County Court. His hearing was beginning to deteriorate and his patience was running thin. So I'm not sure how well he would have handled those day-long marathon court sessions where he heard what seemed like a thousand cases.
But Election Day was November 8. He gave it his best shot at defeating Dallas Powers, his one-time law partner. In the end, Dallas won his re-election.
But other than a bruised ego, it wasn't really a loss for Dad. Really.
Really. He would have hated that job. He would have had a hard time hearing everyone, and no way he would have had the patience to sit through a four-hour docket.
Things work out for a reason, you know.
In the photo above, we're all together for the obligatory family photograph. Jenny is holding Kevin, who was only a few months old. Adam was seven, Sara almost five, Alison and Connor just more than two. Click. For such a motley crew, we take a good photograph.