New link--Wills, Trusts & Estates Prof Blog

If you are looking for daily news from the mass media and legal sources on all things related to estates and probate, check out the blog by Texas Tech University School of Law professor, Gerry W. Beyer, called Wills, Trusts & Estates Prof Blog.

Most days, Professor Beyer has multiple posts with news from around the country. Some of the news is interesting to any reader (like Anna Nicole Smith's estate--see, now you're interested!). Some posts are decidedly for estate and probate wonks like attorneys and law students, but read a few posts and even the most legally intricate items can hook you in.

For future reference, I've added a link to the professor's blog to my list at the right side of Live a Beautiful Story.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar is as lively as eight 5-year-olds (that's 40)

For anyone age 45 and younger, the children's book, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, was part of growing up. Its author and illustrator, Eric Carle, is profiled in a recent Newsweek story.

His 200-word story about a caterpillar who devours a sausage, a cupcake, a watermelon and more—there are holes drilled into the book to represent all that nibbling—celebrates its 40th anniversary this week. "

In addition to discussing Carle's literary work, the Newsweek story tells of his childhood in Nazi Germany where he was able to connect with art in spite of Hitler's reign of totalitarian control. Ultimately, Carle ended up in the United States, working as a graphic artist and illustrator.

[At 80 years old now,] Carle seems to have reached a sweet spot in his life—he posted a picture on his blog recently of him eating breakfast with a spoonful of his favorite food: Black Forest honey. "I'm very happy," he says. "In fact, I told my wife I've never been so happy." It might have taken him 40 years, but Eric Carle is finally as free as a butterfly.

Sepia restaurant in Chicago

Lately, I've really been wanting to do another food post, so when we went to Chicago recently and had dinner at Sepia, I knew I had my topic.

Besides the great locally-sourced menu and laid-back, chic ambiance, Sepia comes with recommendations from friends and from Michelle Obama!

In January, the San Francisco Chronicle's story about the Obama's Chicago said this about Sepia:

Occupying an 1890s-era printing house, with decor that artfully intertwines the historic (old Chicago photos) and the modern (chandeliers encased in huge cylindrical shades), Sepia is said to be Michelle Obama's favorite restaurant. And its chef, Kendal Duque, was reportedly a top contender to cook for the Obamas at the White House.

"How much is that doggy in the split-up"

Okay, I'm showing my age with that (lame) reference to popular music (of another century, no less). However, the ABA family law listserv recently circulated this appeals case from New Jersey, under the subject of "dog custody." While that label gets attention, the decision is not really about custody at all, with no analysis parallel to child custody (except for a footnote alluding to amicus briefs asking the court to apply a "best interest of the dog" standard).

In the end, the court said the woman should receive the dog, not just its cash value. The court's analysis went like this. Beginning with the finding of the lower court, the court determined that the couple had agreed that the woman would receive the dog when they divided their property upon their split. (The couple was not married, so this is not a divorce case, which is not relevant in the court's analysis.) Next, after the man refused to give the dog to the woman, the court said that she could demand the dog back and not have to settle for the monetary value of the dog. The court reasoned that the dog had sentimental value beyond what the couple had paid for it, therefore, the woman was entitled to receive the dog specifically in the division of the couple's property.

Financial resources from the Wall Street Journal

For useful tools and news on all types of personal financial questions, whether retirement, investments, taxes, you name it, check out the "Personal Finance" section of the Wall Street Journal. And for ease of future reference, I've added the link to my list on the right side of the blog.

Memories and metaphors after good-bye

In this reflection on Slate.com, Meghan O'Rourke tells of her metaphor for her mother immediately following her mother's death:

I went outside onto my parents' porch without putting my coat on. The limp winter sun sparkled off the frozen snow on the lawn. "Please take good care of my mother," I said to the air. I addressed the fir tree she loved and the wind moving in it. "Please keep her safe for me."

. . .

The truth is, I need to experience my mother's presence in the world around me and not just in my head. Every now and then, I see a tree shift in the wind and its bend has, to my eye, a distinctly maternal cast. For me, my metaphor is—as all good metaphors ought to be—a persuasive transformation. In these moments, I do not say to myself that my mother is like the wind; I think she is the wind. I feel her: there, and there.

In a similar vein, Alan Jones wrote a reflection upon his retirement as dean of Grace Episcopal Cathedral in San Francisco. He commented that writing one's own obituary is an interesting exercise to gain clarity of one's priorities and purpose in life. Here is a poem he wrote about his own obituary writing exercise:

Pescadero--on Writing My Obituary

The instructions read,
"Only two hundred words."
The music of the movie, Shadowlands
contradicts my old dislike of Lewis,
his moralisms always hitting where it hurt.
Now--writing of my death--
I think he's right.--
At least he saw
glory in the noche oscura.

The dying sun
here in Richard's house
softly lights the Buddha's way,
filling me with an unbuddhist ache
of contented longing,
in the cycle of attachment.

The Zen bells ring,
telling me that while no meeting
in my life was insignificant,
the past is past.

Alone in the nunc eternum
of this moment,
I am surrounded
by clouds of witness.
My obituary written,
I live, for this moment,
on the other side of death,
with Buddha and his consort
in this Japanese retreat.
Mary and her Son
still keep me company,
teaching me to hope--
loving all sentient beings,
and being loved in return,
I see karma and providence
marry in the light of the fading sun.

(Photo by annia316 ღ ; used by permission.)

Caregivers who are (too) young

When a child cares for an ailing parent, we usually think of an adult child caring for an infirm octogenarian. However, recently, the New York Times looked at minor children who care for their middle aged parents. As you might expect, the results are difficult and stressful, especially when financial resources like insurance are scarce and the families have few others to depend on.

Across the country, children are providing care for sick parents or grandparents — lifting frail bodies off beds or toilets, managing medication, washing, feeding, dressing, talking with doctors. Schools, social service agencies and health providers are often unaware of those responsibilities because families members may be too embarrassed, or stoic.

Some children develop maturity and self-esteem. But others grow anxious, depressed or angry, sacrifice social and extracurricular activities and miss — or quit — school.

Educators and social workers try to address the gaps in the lives of those in need. But identifying the families is only the first step. Sometimes, resources are just not at hand.

(Photo by NatyRive; used by permission.)

"Aging in place" may be a choice for some, but not for all

"Aging in place" has come to mean elders living in their homes as long as possible, with the necessary and appropriate accomodations coming to them. Often, this means adapting the physical aspects of the house (e.g., grab bars in bathrooms) and in-home assistance for personal care or health care.

A recent Washington Post story explores the options of aging in place for elders, including the necessity of doing so for some because of the recession.

"One of the unwritten tragedies of the current housing price collapse is that for a host of reasons [e.g., money, job security, depreciated properties], a higher share of older Americans will be 'forced' to age in place, who might otherwise have considered alternative housing arrangements," said Stephen Golant, a gerontologist and geographer who teaches at the University of Florida.

But as a whole, many people may choose to stay in their homes for as long as possible. (Who among us hasn't heard an elderly relative express such a preference, especially over nursing home care.)

The article continues by quoting Peter Bell, executive director of the National Aging in Place Council: "Boomers may be more cognizant of the need to plan ahead because they have had to deal with their parents in a reaction mode."

Furthermore, most of the considerations of home accessability and personal care apply to people with disabilities of any age.

A recent story from the New York Times explains how architectural design, whether original or adapted, can successfully accomodate various levels of ability. As the designer featured in the story said, "[People] are only disabled if they can't do what they want to do. Architecture can eliminate disability by design."

(Photo by kamaru; used by permission.)

This year is the 200th anniversary of Lincoln's birth

To celebrate the 200th anniversary of Lincoln, the Smithsonian Institution website offers a wide array of history, photos, and videos. Check out the special section of the website.

(Photo by dbking; used by permission.)

Obama, art, food

Recently, the Smithsonian Institution displayed a portrait of Presidents Obama and Lincoln--made from cupcakes. Here is the New York Times post on the exhibit, which became a party where everyone ate the cupcakes.

Also, here is the Smithsonian's video of the artist telling her story about how she created the "mosaic" of the presidents.

(Photo by Luce Foundation Center, Smithsonian American Art Museum; video by Meredith Bragg.)