my legal counsel
presenting to you, my official legal counsel. representing me from a top-tier firm in friendship and kindness.
My legal counsel is not actually my legal counsel. I haven’t gone that mad.
They are lawyers, but they are not mine.
They are my friends first and provide a different kind of advice.
They are lawyers in tax, government, policy, freedom of information, building and social justice…I think I got that right.
I have joked with the idea if I were to ever be in such trouble…what good friends to have.
“So, I’ve stolen a taxi, and need a hand”
But this is not the reason I like them close by…
Simone, an excellent mum to her beautiful daughter Ivy. We worked in a bookstore together for only 3 weeks in 2011. A short time ignited a life-long friendship. She has become the sweetest friend. With music recommendations, chats about philosophy, life and entertaining my goofiness. She helped make the oddball in me feel noticed and proud. Immediate offers of assistance, thoughts and love have meant the most.
My sweet Swedish brothers, Oskar and Jack. Brought together by our dads selling cars in the old millennia, they are old and I like to think they were rustling and hustling horses. Connected as kids, with some of my earliest memories with you both. Riding bikes into lakes and hanging out nude in flower pots. We reconnected at the start of the year once you found out. You rushed to spend time, send a text, head to a sauna, have a beer and chat. It was like no time has ever passed. You are the best and it has filled my heart with warmth.
Nick, a friend whose address I never remembered. But always remembered how to find you, even when I’ve been sick and alone with my eyes closed. The goofy man with a perfect combo of fun larrikin, serious and wild. I’ve always known you for your heart of gold. You have been there for a kick of the footy, always knew the best deals and knew when to be serious. I have been able to lean on you in more ways than one would hope. Thank you heaps for making it count when it mattered to me most.
YG, a friend I’ve known since grade prep. A friend who I played footy with, wearing opposing AFL team colours while we played kick to kick, him Richmond and me Essendon. We went to school together from prep to year-12. Moments of competitiveness and debating on whether stretching the night before a match was useful to getting lifts home together soaking wet from a 3rds footy match. We reconnected recently and exchanged each other’s stories, you have been ever supportive and encouraging of my resilience my friend. Thank you for being there for me YG, the unexpected reconnection and rekindling of friendship makes me feel ever so supported.
So this is my legal counsel and they refuse to bill in 6-minute increments.
It has become pro bono and they have paid me in unforgettable love and kindness.
Thank you to my legal counsel, you have been ever devout.