A Series of Tearful Episodes Part 2

In my last column I talked about the ’80s sitcom “The Golden Girls”, and how I loved and could absolutely relate not so much to the “Golden” (yet), but to the “Girl” part of their weekly dilemmas and adventures and my appreciation for how each would help the other get in and out of trouble each episode. While sitting in the hair salon helping a friend who was having a post divorce mini-home repair crisis I thought of my own At Home experience, a few unforgettable years ago of entering a new category of personhood and the unfamiliar challenges that began to attach themselves and tag along like old friends and I immediately thought of YOU.
As you remember in part one, I was recently divorced after 16 years of marriage, and my central air conditioning unit had had a heart attack. I didn’t have the money to operate or resuscitate and I was feeling the effects of the summer heat bearing down on my bedroom windows. I had confidently decided, “I’m single, but I can do this” and so I took a field trip to Wal-Mart in search of an air conditioner for temporary relief.
There I was in the huge store aisle. I began to reach for a box, any box, to gingerly place in the shopping cart (buggy); race to pay the cashier and leave the store. Only my annoyance and trepidation mounted when I realized that the box was too heavy. Even the smallest box was too large for my body to carry and my arms to embrace.  I needed help. Frustrated, I picked up the few pieces of my pride that had fallen to the floor and put some semblance of a smile on my face as not to reveal my true feelings. I walked soberly over to the customer service desk in search of male brawn to assist me in completing my task. The service desk manager was energetic and more than willing to help. He joyfully marched me back over to the aisle containing the air conditioning units and asked me to point out the unit that fit my needs.
By that time I had gained my composure and gracefully yet confidently identified one of the boxes. It was neither the most expensive nor the cheapest; I didn’t choose the box because of my knowledge of its offerings, but simply because it looked appealing, (it was pretty with not too many bells and whistles) and because I was mentally and emotionally exhausted by the selection.
My helper effortlessly placed the box in my cart and said, “make sure that whoever installs it…” he continued to talk and I watched his lips move as if I was watching a silent movie in the 1920s. All I could hear were the screams emanating from my brain as I was completely overtaken not by what he said, but the reality that there was no one At Home to install it. He finished his silent sentence, smiled and walked away. He might as well have been speaking a foreign language, because I didn’t hear or understand a word.
Feelings of panic and anxiety rushed to my heart and brain. I felt the need to chase him, tackle him to the ground like a linebacker tackling a quarterback during Super Bowl season and plead with him to not only help me get the air conditioner to my car, but help me get it home, install it and I would thankfully send him back to the store. As he turned his back to leave I felt the blood leave my face, my eyes pooled with tears and I stood in the middle of the hardware aisle in Wal-Mart, and you guessed it…
Tune in next week for the conclusion of “A Series of Tearful Episodes.”
“I may not have all the answers, but I know the One who does.”
If you have questions or a topic of interest email me at Athomewithshellie1@yahoo.com or click on www.athomewithshellie.com.

Jessica Jones
Butler Snow law firm has opened a new location in the downtown Birmingham area.
The leaders of the firm specifically targeted Birmingham as an ideal location for the firm’s expansion, said Todd Smith, President and CEO of Butler Snow Birmingham.
“Birmingham is a growth market for them to really come into a city where they can do excellent client service and client work and there are really great opportunities for them here,” Smith said. “They’ve targeted Birmingham over the last few years as part of their strategic move.”
The official launch of the Butler Snow Birmingham firm, held at the Birmingham Museum of Art on April 24, also included a $50,000 donation from the firm to the city’s museum.
“One of the hallmarks of the firm is they’re really tied into the community; they’re very committed and dedicated, so they’re always looking for ways they can enhance their relationships with the arts in the community,” Smith said.
Founded in Jackson, Mississippi, Butler Snow has provided representation for clients in all 50 states and internationally. The firm represents clients across a wide range of areas including real estate, general litigation, and product liability. The firm now has locations in several states and one office in London, England. The firm’s recent expansion into Birmingham has been in the making for a while, said Don Clark, chairman of Butler Snow.
“We’re just really happy to be in Birmingham,” Clark, said. “We’ve been wanting to be over here with a larger presence for quite some time. “We started with one or two lawyers here and we were at about four or five lawyers when we had the opportunity to acquire this larger group that joined us recently and we have been so thrilled to have such prominent attorneys from this area join the firm and that’s why we’re having this launch of the office and it will be the first time we can say that we’re a full service firm in Birmingham and that’s something we’ve wanted for a long time, both on the litigation side and the business side.”
In addition to providing the best resources to its clients, community is an essential part of the firm’s vision.
“Butler Snow is a firm that prides itself on internal teamwork, which I think we have, but at the same time we want to be very involved with the community where we’re located,” Clark said.
The firm is also involved in civic and charitable activities as well and has its own foundation Clark said. Later this year, the foundation will begin receiving grant applications from local organizations that assist the needy.
The Butler Snow firm has expanded from five attorneys in the city to 25. The firm’s rapid growth of the knowledgeable and experienced attorneys is the highlight of being a part of the team, said James Barton, head of the litigation department.
“I’ve done product liability work for national and international companies, but primarily in Alabama,” Barton said. “I’ve done some work across the country but most of the work I’ve done has been here in Alabama and Butler Snow with its footprints, and 17 different offices and 280 lawyers, this firm has got tremendous resources and capabilities and it’s just one of the firms that any large corporation, national or international, can come to and get the resources that they need to defend their litigation, so it’s a thrill to be with an outfit of such high caliber lawyers with a go anywhere capacity. That’s an asset to the Birmingham market.”
Butler Snow has received numerous titles including, One of the Top Ten Busiest Product Liability Practices in Law360 Litigation Almanac, one of Best Review’s top 69 law firms “Standing the Test of Time”, and has also been named as a “Go-To Law Firm of the World’s Leading Companies 2013” by ALM. Clark attributes the firm’s success not only to the firm’s solidarity, but by offering services that are beneficial to clients.
“The culture at Butler Snow is really different than most firms,” Clark said. “We really depend on teamwork. We have a system that encourages teamwork. We also are very active in our efforts to be able to quote alternative fees to clients. The alternative fees include such things as flat fees where a client can get some certainty on what their bill is going to be… so that has contributed greatly to our success, along with the culture of the firm that encourages teamwork, so the clients benefit from that. It’s always clients first at this firm. We’re proud of that and I think that’s one of the factors that’s really contributed to our growth.”

(NAPSI)—Here’s an inspiring look at how one former soldier went from adversity to personal victory: Retired Staff Sgt. Paul Roberts is a two-time Warrior Games medalist, a father of two, a federal employee and a proud member of the U.S. Army Wounded Warrior Program (AW2).
In the summer of 2009, Roberts was serving in Afghanistan when his truck was hit with an IED.
“I hit the windshield and I was unconscious,” remembered Roberts, who sustained severe second- and third-degree burns and was the only survivor from the truck. “When I woke up, my face was on fire, the fire started eating through my gloves.”
He was medically evacuated to Landstuhl, Germany and then to Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC) in San Antonio, where he was introduced to AW2 and his first AW2 Advocate, Kimmy Davis.
During his recovery, Roberts participated in the Operation Warfighter internship program at the Drug Enforcement Administration. Roberts also discovered adaptive sports. “Wheelchair basketball was instrumental in my recovery and transition,” said Roberts, who played for the San Antonio Spurs wheelchair basketball team. “It gave me a sense of purpose and a sense of drive.”
In 2012, Roberts medically retired from the Army and relocated to Washington, D.C., where he met a new AW2 Advocate, Ayandria Barry. Though he was separating from the Army after six years of service, Roberts was determined to continue to serve his country by working for the government. Barry signed Roberts up for federal job fairs and practice interview sessions and helped with his résumé. Roberts accepted a position with the Department of Justice. “I feel lucky that I had wonderful people at AW2 help me transition from the Army to civilian life,” said Roberts.
Along with career and education planning, AW2 Advocates work with soldiers and veterans to navigate federal programs and processes, assist with financial planning and find local resources. Specifically, Barry secured a special lawn mower for the Roberts’ yard that accommodated the burns on Roberts’ legs. Barry helped Roberts obtain a special wheelchair to train for and participate in the Warrior Games. Today, the Roberts family considers Barry a staple around their household, not only as an AW2 Advocate, but also as a friend.
To learn more about AW2 and other resources for wounded, ill and injured soldiers, visit http://wtc.army.mil/announcements/AW2_10th_Anniversary.html.

TUSCALOOSA/BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Jack & Jill Teen Meghan Marks has won the organization’s Ann Owen Gordon Teen State of Alabama Oratorical Competition. The state event, a culmination of local competitions which took place in Birmingham and across Alabama this winter, was held Saturday, April 12th, at Stillman College in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The 2014 Teen Oratorical Competition is themed “Pink and Blue: The American You.”
The Birmingham Chapter member, a high school junior at Indian Springs School, is the daughter of Dr. Robert and Fran Marks.
Another young member who represented the Birmingham Chapter and advanced to the state level in his age-group category was Elijah Cantelow, the son of Rev. John and Rhonda Cantelow.  Elijah presented his Speak Up / Speak Out! speech on the topic of “Me: My Legacy.”
The Ann Owen Gordon Oratorical Competition “is designed to inspire and encourage Teens to embrace and value the art of public speaking. The competition begins at the chapter level with the selection of a participant who competes at the Area Oratorical Competition.” Speak Up – Speak Out! “ is a signature program of the organization’s Southeastern Region. It is not a competition but, an opportunity for younger youth, 10-12 years, to speak before an audience without the pressure of competition.”
For children and teens, the process builds confidence, helps them to develop their ideas into a focused message, and enhances speaking and presentation skills.
Meghan will advance to the championship competition by representing her chapter and state at the 2014 Jack & Jill Southeastern Regional Teen Conference in Nashville, Tenn. in July. Locally, the Birmingham Chapter conducted its oratorical presentations in conjunction with a Black History Program, February 8, at the YWCA. Second Place winner in the Teen Oratorical Competition, Division II, ages 16-19, was Reginald Lawson.  Jeremiah Spillers presented as a non-competitive participant. Quest Agee also presented as a “Speak Up Speak Out!” participant.
A number of community leaders served as judges and members of the Listening Panel, including: Gwen Amamoo, Cedric Burden, Walvid King, Blair Liggins, Gwen May, and Katrina Watson.
As part of the Black History experience, children and adults reflected on the contributions made by so many during Birmingham’s 50th Commemoration of 1963. Participants transferred those thoughts onto individual index cards, which will form a collaborative remembrance of that time.
Adrienne Jones is Birmingham Chapter president. Mothers’ Oratorical Committee leaders included: Rhonda Cantelow, Chair; Hermieon Carter, Vice Chair. Speak Up Speak Out! Committee leaders included: Wanda Spillers, Chair; Majella Chube Hamilton, Vice Chair. Black History Committee leadership included: Dr. Stacey Haynes Nelson, Chair; Dolores Johnson, Vice Chair. Committee members included: Christina Norman, Tampia Anderson, Mia Cowin, Merika Coleman, Yolanda Jackson-Royal, Terri Gardner, Joy Simon, Denise Gregory, Natasha Walker, Judge Nyya Hudson, Dr. Monique Gardner-Witherspoon, and Cathy Floyd.
Teen Committee members served as follows – Oratorical Committee: Carmen Cantelow, Chair; Kameron Carter, Vice Chair. Black History Committee: Christina Johnson, Chair; Elexia Coleman, Vice Chair.  Teen Committee members: Hannah Floyd, Cameron Gardner, Neal Hamilton, Preston Mitchell, Makeda Royal, and Jeremiah Spillers.