• 1990-Present: Upon graduation from law school, I had the extreme good fortune to be recruited by a large and highly respected law firm. Those first years with the law firm caused me to become fluent at a wide variety of legal “grunt work,” which makes a fine foundation for a competent practice. I worked hard and, over time, became licensed to practice law in multiple jurisdictions, including California; New York; Texas; and the District of Columbia as well as before the highest court in the nation – The United States Supreme Court.
However, I still hated being a wage slave. So, after absorbing all that was possible under the tutelage of the large firm, my own firm was formed. Combining prior business experience with legal skills allowed me to build a practice that now has offices in three states. The challenge of one’s own law practice, in and of itself, is quite rewarding. Additionally, for the second time in my life, I was able to enjoy the exhilaration of creating a thriving new business.
All of life’s experiences have a value, and in 1995 those years spent sailing paid off. I was lucky enough to be a part of the America's Cup Yacht Race in San Diego, the Super Bowl of yacht racing! Being on the deck of a pitching boat while above us ESPN & CNN helicopters were broadcasting the race internationally made the experience all the more exciting. I have been invited to participate again in the year 2000 when the race will be held in New Zealand and am looking forward to further adventures on that ocean as well.
The highlight of the decade, however, is that my companion since the 1980's became my wife in the early 1990's. Laura is beautiful and is also a lawyer. These days we allocate our time between our home in California located near the ocean and a second home, affectionately referred to as “the ranch,” in Texas.
In addition to busy law practices, we lead very active lifestyles inclusive of sailing, tennis, riding bicycles and horses and a variety of other pursuits. I still surf regularly and continue to run 10K races, although I do believe the days of running marathons may be just a memory.
• The New Millennium: Now, as the 1990's come to a close, I can see that age signpost on the not too distant horizon. It has the numerals “50" on it, along with warnings to “REDUCE SPEED,” and “PROCEED WITH CAUTION.”
But I figure more than half of my life is still ahead. Who knows what opportunities await? (Okay, so maybe I'm a bit overly optimistic, but I'm in good physical shape and have enormous faith in the life expanding efforts of modern medical science ... besides, I always thought we Baby Boomers were going to live forever!) I'd love to write a book based upon my adventures and the characters I’ve met along the way. (Any publishers out there interested?) Maybe Laura and I will have kids and start a family, it’s still not too late (she is not yet even 40) ... that may prove to be the most wonderful adventure of all!
For the present, however, I view being a lawyer as the latest in this series of adventures. I fully intend to continue exploring and developing the potential of the legal profession, one associated with the power to effect change and bring about justice to those in need. Certainly all the hard knocks and lessons learned from life upon the sea; from being thrown to the ground by angry Brahma Bulls; by capturing an audience’s attention with music; by creating solid structures, one board at a time, as a carpenter; by tackling head-on the challenges of business; and by close association with people from many different walks of life, have proven invaluable to developing a rewarding and satisfying legal practice and to living the life of an attorney.
Well, I don’t know if it quite measures up to the fictional movie life of Mr. Forest Gump. But I do know that as my life approaches the half century mark (I’ll be 50 in the year 2000), I am without a single regret and feel that my life, thus far, has been well lived.
If nothing else, I’ve learned that the only limitations in life are self imposed. There is no prerequisite that one need be brilliant or particularly gifted with talent to achieve a life filled with satisfaction and diversity. You only go around once, so make the most of it. I’ve enjoyed every minute of this corporal existence, sampling (like a box of chocolates) so much of what life has to offer and having lived many different lives within one lifetime, each filled with excitement and adventure.
And the adventures continue ....
Michael E. Petrie is a partner in The Law Offices of Petrie & Associates. The firm has offices in Texas, California and the East Coast. Mr. Petrie has recently begun writing a book based upon his real life experiences.
Western Legal Journal September 1999
• 2007 Update to this story: Laura, Michael, their two children and a menagerie of pets continue to live in a small town (population 23,000) at the beach in Southern California where each morning greets them with the sun glistening off the blue Pacific and the laughter of seagulls cheering them on their day. Learning to be good parents has become the couple's primary preoccupation, but Michael still loves sailing, running on the beach (he is currently training for his third 26.2 mile marathon) and has taken up writing (his articles have appeared in both local and national publications and the ink is still drying on his first novel). Laura enjoys playing tennis and anything to do with great wines (she has become an actual wine expert, certified by the Court of Master Sommeliers, and the couple recently returned from a month-long wine tour of Tuscany and Bordeaux). A shared affection for the grape is why Michael & Laura love getting away to their second home in the hills overlooking California's beautiful wine country. A quiet afternoon in the vineyards watching colorful hot-air balloons gracefully drifting overhead while sampling local vino and exotic cheeses is one of their favorite pastimes and has put the couple on a first-name basis with many of the area vintners.
Summarizing the interesting paths taken over the last several decades, Michael Petrie says, "Our beautiful son and daughter have made our family complete and we are happily enjoying tons of new adventures in parenting. The past several decades have been pretty exciting, but I feel as if we saved the best for last. I am far more excited about future decades ... and watching the world anew through the eyes of our children."
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