tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5118261797831917447.post4836244011614549238..comments2023-07-23T11:53:16.145-04:00Comments on This Heart of Mine: This Life of Mine Samantha Brinn Merelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15109435460094526642noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5118261797831917447.post-36022719926182105532014-04-16T11:21:01.401-04:002014-04-16T11:21:01.401-04:00I really love how well your writing flows and just...I really love how well your writing flows and just manages to convey your hopes, dreams and aspirations, without focusing so much on the negatives. Nicolenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5118261797831917447.post-24564605216592617102013-06-08T08:22:27.018-04:002013-06-08T08:22:27.018-04:00I don't know how I missed this one when you fi...I don't know how I missed this one when you first published it! I wish I had pursued law when I was younger, but I was an idealist and went after social work (which I ultimately hated). <br /><br />Oh, how I wish I had known you (and you were already where you are now in your career!) in 2006 when my grandfather passed away, leaving half his estate in a trust for my mother, to be overseen by my brother. Someday I'll tell of THOSE fun times...<br /><br />So glad you have a career you love. Also, I had books like that for benefits: Section 125, ERISA, etc. and I found a weird sort of pleasure in researching in them. :)Michelle Longohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15437193620480920753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5118261797831917447.post-25115297807633683752013-02-26T23:59:10.703-05:002013-02-26T23:59:10.703-05:00This is definitely not what I think of when I thin...This is definitely not what I think of when I think 'lawyer'. I'm so glad for you that you enjoy what you do so much!TriGirlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16289885288405245140noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5118261797831917447.post-83867867664017437212013-02-26T13:43:24.385-05:002013-02-26T13:43:24.385-05:00There are certainly days when I don't love it,...There are certainly days when I don't love it, and days when I wonder if I was right to choose law at all. But in general, I enjoy my practice, and I like what I do, and I think that makes me unique among lawyers. And estate planning is definitely a different animal when it comes to the law. It is so much more people-centric, and I think that makes it easier to enjoy.Samantha Brinn Merelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15109435460094526642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5118261797831917447.post-6201756648321886182013-02-26T13:42:05.626-05:002013-02-26T13:42:05.626-05:00There are a lot of people who want to bury their h...There are a lot of people who want to bury their heads in the sand when talking about Wills because talking about Wills inevitably means talking about death. And what makes this area so challenging, and also interesting, is trying to cut through the fear.Samantha Brinn Merelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15109435460094526642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5118261797831917447.post-13906958688312030842013-02-25T23:17:36.297-05:002013-02-25T23:17:36.297-05:00My husband ... no let me back up. My mother was te...My husband ... no let me back up. My mother was technically the executor of my grandfather's estate. But when he tried to sit down with her before his death and talk about his various assets (he was a doctor - they did exist - he wasn't some rich specialist, but there was enough that he had several things going on) she basically shut down over the idea that he would die. So she and he called us up and asked my husband to be the substitute executor should Mom wish it. Of course, when my grandfather died, Mom had no desire to have any idea what to do with the money. It's not that she's dumb. It's just that she was reeling from the loss. And Scott was the natural choice because his background is in legal history. And here's the thing. (My point, finally). He loved it. He has a year of law school and a PhD in history, and he loves teaching history, and I think that he'd really love to go back and become an estate lawyer. (Which would be fine with me, but he's also practical as hell). Jester Queenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10441806535770013592noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5118261797831917447.post-81591864887044309532013-02-25T21:28:55.785-05:002013-02-25T21:28:55.785-05:00Yay!! you're one of the first lawyers i know w...Yay!! you're one of the first lawyers i know who actually love their job. my husband's a lawyer too, he's not unhappy but i can't say he feels the same. good for you. i'm sure you're great at your job. when you're happy it shows. :)www.icescreammama.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13002351185759292747noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5118261797831917447.post-6927060058609256832013-02-25T17:05:10.955-05:002013-02-25T17:05:10.955-05:00I admire your passion for your job and that you ca...I admire your passion for your job and that you care so much. That's so important, especially in your line of work. People matter to you and that makes all the difference. Thanks for sharing your work life with us. And I'm so glad you enjoy your work as much as you do. That's a huge thing in life. It's an excellent thing to love what you do!Linda Royhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11285985403444531922noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5118261797831917447.post-11801286849534280742013-02-25T16:32:17.990-05:002013-02-25T16:32:17.990-05:00The best lawyers never forget their clients are pe...The best lawyers never forget their clients are people. :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5118261797831917447.post-40404525047372220002013-02-25T13:02:26.536-05:002013-02-25T13:02:26.536-05:00Wow, that was a great post. It's always so in...Wow, that was a great post. It's always so interesting what draws someone to what they do. And once you explained it, I can see how working on estates and wills would be a lot about the stories. You are dealing with people's lives. That's fabulous! I already liked you a lot, but this gives me even more of an appreciation for you :)Kinley Danehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02648398736837020249noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5118261797831917447.post-15244571089035851312013-02-23T07:52:55.361-05:002013-02-23T07:52:55.361-05:00So happy to hear about your satisfaction and to ge...So happy to hear about your satisfaction and to get to know you better!Christirhttp://www.outlawmama.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5118261797831917447.post-28432417646290678582013-02-22T14:46:51.889-05:002013-02-22T14:46:51.889-05:00So glad you have a job you love. Mine? The excitem...So glad you have a job you love. Mine? The excitement undulates and keeps me engaged most of the time, and other times I want to die from boredom. <br /><br />I too like stories and that's why I liked this line: "Because I love to write stories, I love to listen to stories, and I get to do that each and every day." How fortunate to do that every day. I thought about being a lawyer once (I was a philosophy major in college). . . maybe it's time for a(nother) career change. . . :)Jared Karolhttp://lickthefridge.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5118261797831917447.post-57822000541293673062013-02-22T13:23:21.285-05:002013-02-22T13:23:21.285-05:00Thank you so much! The truth is, there are days th...Thank you so much! The truth is, there are days that I dream of staying home, writing full time, and exploring the creativity that I only realized I had once I started this blog. But since there are pesky things like mortgages, insurance, and cars to pay for, that's just not in the cards right now. But for now I really like where I am and what I am doing. It's been a fascinating year and a half here at this firm, and I'm looking forward to more. Samantha Brinn Merelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15109435460094526642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5118261797831917447.post-79252981480537710362013-02-22T12:54:33.548-05:002013-02-22T12:54:33.548-05:00Please don't take this the wrong way, but I am...Please don't take this the wrong way, but I am totally developing a blog crush on you. I hope that when I return to the work world (as long as my brain has not atrophied to the jam I always seem covered with) I am as satisfied with my profession as you are. I admire how passionate you are in all the areas of your life (including TV!) Kristinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06281433748053233153noreply@blogger.com