On Sunday, PGA superstar Justin Thomas commented on his similar observations at Hilton Head Island after a fellow PGA player tested positive for COVID-19 during the RBC Heritage Golf Tournament, one of the showcase events in our state. He frankly reported that Hilton Head is a beautiful place, but no one seemed to be observing precautionary measures or taking the pandemic seriously.

We are all experiencing “quarantine fatigue,” but if we, as Americans and South Carolinians, do not continue to act responsibly during this pandemic, we have little hope of safely resuming our normal lives until an effective vaccine is developed and made widely available. We must all do our part for the greater good, and I urge you to encourage your friends and loved ones to do the same!

 

I normally stay away from topics of controversy in the KellyGram, but I speak on behalf of myself and Mike Kelly Law Group when I say that taking a stance against systemic racism and oppression should never be controversial. This issue is not about Democrats versus Republicans, good cops versus bad cops, or black versus white. It’s about everyone versus racism. Solving this deeply-rooted problem will require an enormous amount of work and change on a societal level, a governmental level, and by each of us on an individual level. It will not happen overnight, but if we stand united and keep the discourse alive, justice will, in time, prevail.

Borrowing from NASA commentator Dan Huot, with the launch of this mission, “So rises a new era of American spaceflight, and with it the ambitions of a new generation continuing the dream.” In the midst of the suffering felt throughout our country right now, this demonstration of America’s ingenuity and resilient spirit came as a welcome ray of hope for the future of our nation. It is a testament to what we, the people, are capable of accomplishing, and that we wield the ambition and courage needed to turn the page on these turbulent times and inspire a new chapter in American history!

I particularly want to salute Gilbert High School 2020 graduate Kristi Brown, the daughter of our long-time legal administrator Amanda Swearingen. I have literally known Kristi since the day she was born, and I consider her to be part of the Mike Kelly Law Group family. She’s a brilliant and absolutely delightful young woman, and we have been honored to have her share her talents working at the office from time to time. There’s no doubt that a successful future awaits her!

Congratulations Kristi and the Class of 2020! Enjoy your day in the spotlight—you’ve earned it!

Without boring you with all the details, neither of my parents had the privilege of getting a college education, and it was actually my neighbor—a small-town practitioner in my southern Virginia hometown—who inspired me to become a lawyer. In the interview, I explained the path I took from there to where I am today: my strengths and weaknesses as a student, my academic track to earn a law degree, and the challenges and rewards that have come with 43 wonderful years of practicing law in South Carolina. I sincerely hope I gave these students some good advice and shed some light on what it takes to be a lawyer, although I’m sure I took away much more from this interview than I gave! All in all, it was an awesome experience!

Our mothers are precious, so don’t forget to cyber-hug yours (or her memory) this Sunday. Thanks be to God for the mothers of the world!

Events in my life over the past week have reminded me of how vastly important it is to stay connected to the people in our lives, particularly during trying times like those we’re currently experiencing. Human connection is a critical component to maintaining our overall physical and mental wellbeing, and for many, realizing just how substantial a role others play in our lives only became apparent when physical distancing left us starved for connection.

Those of us who live with our families or with roommates are fortunate to have been able to maintain regular human contact over the past six weeks, but lately, I’ve been concerned for my loved ones who are living alone. I can only imagine how isolating that must feel, and it has left me thinking of ways to help ease their feelings of loneliness despite being physically alone. And so, I’ve put together a few creative ways that I’ve seen people socially distancing that I’d like to share in this week’s KellyGram:

1. Virtual Get-Togethers: Zoom is a video-conferencing software that has been widely used by businesses (even before COVID-19) to organize face-to-face meetings with employees working across the country or from home. But instead of a business meeting, why not organize a virtual happy hour or friendly gathering? It’s even a great way to throw a birthday party, and allows you to invite out-of-town friends who otherwise wouldn’t be able to make it!
2. Netflix Parties: Netflix launched a Google Chrome extension called Netflix Party that allows you to play videos in sync with your friends on their devices and chat while you enjoy a movie or your favorite show together…but remotely. So pop some popcorn this weekend and settle in for a virtual movie night!
3. Picnics: While the Governor’s home or work order doesn’t allow for social visits with friends, it does permit visiting with family members. That said, we certainly want to play it safe when visiting family, and a great way to do this is by hosting a back-yard picnic. This can be done safely by arranging seating at a six-foot distance and by encouraging everyone to bring their own food and beverages. Or, if you’re friendly with your neighbors, why not have a picnic together, but in your separate yards?
4. Good Old-Fashioned Phone Calls: Technology has certainly helped us find new and creative ways to stay social at a distance, but sometimes, all we need is a good old-fashioned phone call. This is the easiest way to stay connected with those you care about and to check in on those who may be feeling particularly isolated at this time. Taking five minutes to remind someone that you’re thinking of them could make a significant difference in that person’s life—and yours!

No matter how you choose to stay connected, it’s important to not let physical distancing interfere with important relationships. Now, more than ever, we need the support of our friends and family, to share a good laugh with a loved one, and to be reminded that we’re all in this together.

To open or not to reopen? That is THE question that has been at the forefront of our minds this week after Governor McMaster relaxed some of the restrictions that have been in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19. For the first time in what seems like an eternity, there’s been a glimmer of hope that our normal lives may be restored in the not-so-distant future. But South Carolinians are divided on the issue of whether it’s too soon to begin reopening our state, and naturally so. I, for one, am eager to return to my usual lifestyle; I’m a social person, and I simply can’t wait to be able to see my friends and family again with regularity. I want to get back to the gym and go eat at my favorite haunts (my cooking skills have improved slightly during the home or work order, but not by very much LOL!), and perhaps most importantly, I need a haircut! But even greater than my desire for normalcy is my desire to avoid more deaths or the second wave of COVID-19 in our state and in our country.

I do not envy our local, state, and national leaders as they make monumentally important decisions about how and when to reopen society. Being a true leader has never been more important; if ever there was a time to set aside partisanship, it’s now. We are dealing with a life-and-death situation, and these decisions should be governed by science, with deference to the epidemiologists and health care experts. My thoughts and prayers are with our leaders to make wise, and indeed courageous, decisions in these unprecedented times, and I trust that those decisions will be made with our best interest in mind. In the meantime, we must all continue to proceed carefully and take proper precautions to do our part to end the pandemic.