Vol. 28, No. 5 #7 (October 2005). FROM THE DESK OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.

• Author: By Mary B. Guthrie

Wyoming Bar Journal

2005.

Vol. 28, No. 5 #7 (October 2005).

FROM THE DESK OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

WYOMING LAWYEROctober 2005/Vol. XXVIII, No. 5FROM THE DESK OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR . . .By Mary B. Guthrie

My grandmother, Laura Isabel Guthrie, died the week after I was born, so I never knew her except through family stories. Because my father, who adored his mother, was a marvelous raconteur, we heard many stories about her. Grandmother Guthrie was a very interesting, strong woman. She ran a large sheep ranch in northern Wyoming for many years after my grandfather's death. She wore big hats, drove fast cars, read several books a week and always worked crossword puzzles in ink. When my father was an infant, she carried a pistol in his diaper bag, because sheep ranchers were not well loved in some parts of northern Wyoming. She was also very wise.

During the Bar's Annual Meeting several things happened that made me reflect on her approach to life. My grandmother felt that a person's worth should not be based on their station in life. My sister, Judge Nancy Guthrie, of the Ninth Judicial District, and I share a family resemblance and sometimes are mistaken for each other.(fn1) It is especially interesting to be identified as the judge. A few years ago I was at the U.W. College of Law participating in a moot court. A young woman breathlessly came up to me and said, "Oh, Judge Guthrie, it's so good to see you again." I responded, "Thank you. You have the right family, but the wrong girl." At that point she did an about face and briskly walked off. The message that her behavior sent was that only judges are important enough to be recognized.

At a recent function, Nancy and I exchanged name tags; I became Judge Guthrie and she was cast in the role of the Executive Director of the Bar. It was funny and also a little disconcerting when some people exuberantly greeted me as the judge and just smiled at her and walked on. Nancy has observed that she can't get over how beautiful and brilliant she has become in the 12 years that she has been a judge!

Another piece of advice was that your life will be fuller if you have friends of all different ages. My grandmother liked people and had many friends, including Merrilyn Borthwick, the wife of Wyoming attorney, Dean Borthwick. Merrilyn was about six years old when Grandmother Guthrie...