SFL Friday -- It's All in the Feet.

I'm too tired, grumpy and/or mentally fried to put together a Friday wrap up, so you kids are on your own.



Alright, you talked me out of it.



Congrats to the DBR's Most Effective Lawyers and finalists. You can see the results here.



What else?



I wanted to make sure everybody marked their calendars for January 9, when there will be a unique jazz event in honor of Steve Chaykin and his fellowship at UM:

On Saturday evening, January 9, 2010, a Reception and Concert by Grammy Nominated Jazz and Blues Artist Marcia Ball, will be held at the Gusman Concert Hall, on the University of Miami Campus. All the proceeds will benefit the Steven E. Chaykin Fellowship at the Center for Ethics and Public Service, at the University of Miami School of Law.

More information about this event can be found on the web at www.chaykinfellowship.com or by calling Susan at (305) 374-7771.

Be a mensch and do something special for someone special, and enjoy yourself at the same time. Simple, right?



But then Steve always did make it look easy.

Well I'm out of here, hoping to get in a few waves before the winds pick up.



I've got a few things on my plate for this weekend -- a quick trip to Lake Worth, a long overdue pedicure, and trying to understand the appeal of a certain look.



It's all part of what makes life so mysterious, so weird, so challenging, so grand.



Have a great weekend everyone!

SFL Free Advice Friday: When Discussing Steve Chaykin, You Probably Should Avoid Metaphors About "Water"

Just sayin':

Five men have opted not to run against Florida Bar board of governors candidate Dori Foster-Morales, the only woman seeking the Miami-Dade seat, but one man will oppose her.

Foster-Morales, a family law attorney and wife of former Miami-Dade County Commissioner Jimmy Morales, will face Miami plaintiff attorney John Ostrow in a race to be decided Nov. 3 amid calls for greater diversity on a board long dominated by white men.

Ostrow, who is representing smokers in lawsuits against tobacco companies, said he postponed a run for the board once to allow a woman to replace a woman.

“But this time I didn’t view it as such,” he said. “This was Steve Chaykin’s seat. I’ve waited long enough to put my feet into that water.” Chaykin, an Akerman Senterfitt litigator, died on vacation in July after falling into a Colorado river.

"His Was A Life Well Lived."

What a moving and deeply affecting service today at Temple Beth Sholom in loving memory of Steve Chaykin. Several hundred legal glitterati were in attendance to mourn, grieve, and celebrate the larger than life personality that was Steve. I saw judges, lawyers, lawmakers, and other leaders of our community, all in solidarity at the untimely passing of a great lawyer, father, brother, son, husband, and community leader.

Steve's younger brother Robert shared tearful remembrances of growing up in North Miami Beach, and running away at age 9 to the nearby Royal Castle and 163rd Street Mall, playing in a local band, and even getting into a sibling squabble or two.

Steve's younger sister Robin perhaps is a secret Dylan ranter, as she quoted the lyrics from "You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go":

But I'll see you in the sky above,
In the tall grass, in the ones I love,
Yer gonna make me lonesome when you go.

UM President Donna Shalala ended her eloquent tribute to a huge UM booster with an invitation to Steve's ten-year old daughter Sydney -- the door is always open for you at the University of Miami.

Sam Rabin -- still shocked as are we all -- told old stories, funny stories, and gave us a picture of a man that he described as a total "mensch."

David Mandel choked back tears as he quietly remembered a dear friend and mentor.

Dan Gelber was funny, quick, and to the point as usual, and ended with some beautiful words to Steve's daughter about a man that he said "took him under his wing and never left."

Bruce Udolf shared several remarkable stories of "Diamond Steve" Chaykin and the heyday of the US Attorney's Office in the 80s and early 90s. He even said that Steve and Bruce were perhaps planning to assist in restoring public trust in the US Attorney's office, and of course everyone in Steve's orbit shared his passion for politics and for a change in the direction of the country.

Steve lived large, packed more into those 57 years than many of us could do in several lifetimes. He will be missed.

One takeaway is to be more professional -- grant a colleague an extension, tone down the smirking, mocking rhetoric, grant the other side a point or two and try to debate matters on the merits if possible. Respect the other side even if the feeling is not mutual. Spend more time, better time, quality time with your family, your friends, and give back some to the community. Make every second count.

RIP

Celebrate Life

It's precious and fragile and your good fortune can change in a New York minute.

Steve Chaykin, RIP. The Aspen Daily News has a more complete account here.