Vol. 29, No. 1 #6 (February 2006). Let's Hear it For the Lawyers:.

• Author: By Sean Carter

Wyoming Bar Journal

2006.

Vol. 29, No. 1 #6 (February 2006).

Let's Hear it For the Lawyers:

WYOMING LAWYERFebruary 2006/Vol. 29, No. 1Let's Hear it For the Lawyers: The Cure for Legal Malaise Can Be Just a Little PraiseBy Sean Carter

Recently I had a traumatic incident aboard an airplane. About three hours into a cross-country flight, I came to the sudden realization that I was claustrophobic. I'm not kidding. All of a sudden I had an overwhelming need to extricate myself from that confining metal tube. Realizing that I wasn't going to be able to convince the pilot to land in the nearest open field or to crack a window, I began pacing up and down the aisles looking longingly at the emergency exits.

Before long, I wasn't the only person on the plane feeling extremely uncomfortable.

Fortunately, the plane landed ahead of schedule (I suspect we received emergency clearance) and I bolted from the plans, vowing to never fly again.

Of course, honoring this vow would mean the end of my speaking career. (I simply cannot imagine trying to log 100,000 miles next year in my car. One of both of us would break down well before that point.)

That night, I stepped to the podium fully expecting to give my last speech (and hoping to find someone willing to drive me back to Arizona.) Afterward, I immediately headed to the bar to have a drink and contemplate what I would do with the next 40 years of my life (assuming I lived that long after my wife discovered that she wasn't getting a new car this Christmas - or any Christmas in the foreseeable future).

Fortunately, my misery was interrupted by an audience member telling me how much he enjoyed the presentation. He was followed by another person asking me to sign his copy of my book. Before long, I had a string of people giving me compliments and asking for autographs. One woman even asked me to include my hotel room number along with my signature. And no, I'm not making this up! (Of course, as a wife-fearing Christian, I had to disappoint this fan, but I was flattered by the sentiment.)

At the end of the evening, I realized two important things:

1. I'm even better-looking than I thought.

2. I'm not quitting the speaking business.

Sure, I hate to ride in an airplane, but for that amount of praise, I would fly to my next speech on the outside of the aircraft.

Over the last few months, I've...