Do you know what’s fun? Going to Rusty Duncan. Do you know what’s not as fun? When your youngest son tests positive for COVID the week of Rusty and you’ve been exposed and can’t attend Rusty.
You know what else is fun? Shooting off fireworks on the 4th of July with family and friends. Do you know what is less fun than that? Testing positive for COVID the week of 4th of July and then having your oldest son test positive on the 4th of July.
As I write this article we are hoping beyond hope that we can clear all of our protocols and make it to the annual TCDLA Members Trip in South Padre Island from July 13‑16. That trip is also fun. Aside from catching up on discovery I had not yet reviewed, I am spending my COVID‑cation working on making reservations to the Kalahari Resort for the Fall Board meeting held in con‑ junction with the Post‑Pandemic Trial Preparation CLE from September 15‑17 in Round Rock, Texas. That will also be fun.
So, aside from having to read about me feeling sorry for myself, what is the point? Well, the point is that if you haven’t ever engaged in TCDLA as a member and truly worked to get to know the members of this Organization you are missing out. Sure, there are many a lawyer who has a bit too much to drink at Rusty, but that’s not the extent of the human engagement side of being a part of TCDLA. If you’ve got a family, bring them to the Members Trip. My kids look forward to that trip every year. My oldest son comments every year about how he can’t wait to go to South Padre and swim in the frog pool (if you’ve been you know) and have breakfast with John Hundred Smith (otherwise known to the rest of us as John Hunter Smith). He’s also been bugging me incessantly about the upcoming meeting at the Kalahari because we’ll get to see that guy who’s my friend whose kids go to South Padre and Kalahari and they are fun (otherwise known in our world as Paul Tu). The fact of the matter is that my kids feel like this is their family as much as I do. So does my wife; heck she’s made fun of Clay Steadman more than I have and he likes her better than he likes me. But three trips within a matter of a few months aren’t the only opportunities that exist to get more involved with TCDLA and to become part of the family. While Mark Snodgrass has as much to do with making me a part of the TCDLA family as anyone by bringing me inside the tents at South Padre, there are tons of members across the State who would gladly bring you into the fold if you have the desire. Our Membership Committee has undertaken the awesome idea of having non‑CLE events just for the very purpose of getting us together to have fun. Let’s be honest, we all work too hard every day. There’s no question that a big part of our camaraderie comes from the common ground of hardship we endure every day at work. But that doesn’t define our only way of engaging with each other. I promise, if you get engaged and show up and meet people then you’ll have your own stories to tell about this wonderful organization and you’ll get to experience your own sense of the family that is TCDLA. Not many members can say that they had the treat of taxiing our new TCDLA President’s kids and mother to the hotel in South Padre the very first year I attended. But I did and I can say that I probably have that to thank for counting Heather as my friend.
Be safe
Jeep Darnell
