Today there was an oil spill in Lake Michigan. It struck me that an oil spill can be a lot like a divorce: they are sometimes bigger than they look, are created by idiots, and take longer to deal with than expected.
Bigger than they look
Both oils spills and divorces can be bigger than they first appear.
For example, in an oil spill, it can be hard to determine how much of the oil is visible on the surface area versus whatever might be dropping down into the water, broken up, and covering plans and wildlife.
In a divorce, small issues can be come immense. I’m not talking about an uncontested divorce in Illinois (which I also handle), but about a contested divorce with litigation.
Caused by idiots
Sure, accidents happen. But why did BP have a system that even allowed for the possibility of an oil spill into Lake Michigan? Someone there is an idiot, and caused a large problem.
That’s also kind of like divorce. It only takes one person to cause a giant problem. Sometimes, people are idiots.
Last longer than expected
BP’s last big spill – the one in the Gulf of Mexico, is still be cleaned up. And how many years has it been? I’m sure they’ll pretend the Lake Michigan disaster will be quickly remedied, but we know it won’t be. The impact of oil spills can last longer than people think.
Same for divorce. Potential clients ask me “Can’t we just go to court and tell the judge what happened?” My answer? No.
There are certain procedures that must be followed. And the courts are busy. So, like oil spills, divorces take longer to handle than people would like.