Growing up, I loved Greek mythology. I still do. One of my favorite tales is the story of Persephone, daughter of Demeter. Demeter is the goddess of fertility and bountiful harvests. As the story goes, Persephone was playing in the meadows while her mother harvested her bounty when the earth split open next to her and Hades, god of the underworld, burst forth. He brought Persephone down to his domain, where she became queen of the underworld. Demeter searched everywhere for her daughter until she found her and demanded her return. But, while Persephone was in the underworld, she ate six pomegranate seeds. It was decreed that Persephone could return to her mother for six months each year and would return to her husband for the rest, thereby creating our seasonal wheel of the year. While Persephone is with her mother, flowers and trees bloom and thrive (spring and summer). While she is with her husband, and her mother misses her, the plants display Demeter’s displeasure (fall and winter).
Abduction, false imprisonment, and other legal-related issues aside that I never recognized as a child reading the stories, I loved and appreciated the duality that Persephone embodied. I read recently that, in nature, fall is a time of death. But not just death; rebirth as well. It’s a time to look inside yourself and reflect on what you see. It’s a time of focus. It’s a time of change.
Last week we saw proof of the coming change when President Biden announced his eighth round of judicial nominees, including two new candidates for the United States Court, Southern District of California: Hon. Linda Lopez and Hon. Jinsook Ohta. Judge Lopez would be the first active Latina judge, following trailblazer Hon. Irma Gonzalez (Ret.), and Judge Ohta would be the first AAPI woman judge. My heart soared when I saw these diverse and well-qualified nominees.
I also had the pleasure of introducing incoming 2022 SDCBA President David Majchrzak to a gathering of Past Presidents last week, as we begin planning for next year and the promise that it holds of an end to the pandemic.
As the reports show COVID-19 numbers dropping across the country, I hope that this month will be the last in which we host virtual-only events. Until we are together in person again, I hope you’ll connect with us virtually at our remaining Breakouts with the Bench events: Family & Probate Law this week and Civil Law next week. Even if they are not your practice area — or perhaps you are thinking of making a change to either of these practice areas — we welcome your participation!
They say the only constant in life is change. As I face my own changes over the next few months, I will think of Persephone and her ability to not only adapt but to reign over change.
Yours,
Renée N.G. Stackhouse
2021 SDCBA President
Reading now: *break week*
Listening to: Closing Time by Semisonic
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