Daniel F Klenke, Attorney at Law

01/23/2026

Who needs trains?

https://www.threads.com//post/DT0wXd3Esqa?xmt=AQF0PMFY_bCO7ttP76R6Ashgwp4GFp_YZVthLnPTk-R3b6AR6lUw48HRM1BCwZahVznyVRVH&slof=1

08/22/2023

08/17/2023

Those who know me realize what a killer the last sentence of this post is.

Back in December of 2020, when I first heard on the news about the GOP plan to have “alternate slates” of electors at the ready in the contested battleground states, I remember thinking, “Good luck with that.” I had understood their effort was to mirror what

08/17/2023

The “south” includes St Louis back in the day.

My least favorite part of living in the south by far: the bugs. Perhaps the worst of them all is the Palmetto bug, also commonly referred to around here as the wood roach, water bug, or Satan.

These are giant cockroaches that…wait for it…FLY. They don’t care how clean your home is. They don’t care about your feelings at all. While they aren’t harmful, they’re here on this earth for one purpose only: to ruin your life. They are more commonly seen around areas that are close to the woods or water. But you are bound to see them regardless.

Here’s my pep talk if you run into one of these jerks in your house. They’re fast, don’t take your eye off them. They’re tough, do NOT try to squash one with a tissue. You will cry. I’m speaking from experience. You will need a shoe and the bravery of your ancestors to kill them. Good luck, soldier.

06/04/2023

Dear Disney and Halle Bailey,

Thank you.

The Little Mermaid has been my favorite Disney movie since I first saw it as a child. I wore that VHS tape out, rewinding “Part of Your World” and perfecting that hair flip with my box braids.

Ariel was the first princess that didn’t sing like a little girl. She belted the notes and as a kid that sang in the church choir and later, school choirs, I wanted to sing just like her.

I’ve sung that song to all four of my children from the time I knew they existed, until yesterday. I’ll probably sing it until I’m old and gray because that’s the way that Disney movies touch you.

When I saw Halle Bailey was cast as Ariel, I was excited to see the representation. The wonder on kid’s faces as they saw the trailer warmed my heart. I was thrilled they would get to see themselves as Ariel.

But I didn’t expect what happened at the movie theater today when I took my 5 year old son and my adult daughter to see The Little Mermaid.

My son was mesmerized by seeing a mermaid on the screen. He’s never seen the original so it was all new to him. The first tug of emotion came when Halle started singing that familiar song, soon I heard my son’s tiny voice singing the lyrics.

My mom armor cracked.

The song continued and the iconic rock scene appeared before my eyes. I was no longer mom, I was that little 9 year old girl singing in the living room, but this time, Ariel looked like me. Her hair looked almost exactly like my box braids.

It was in that moment, the dam broke. I found myself with a tear soaked face, struggling to control my breathing and sniffles. I debated if I should leave the theater to collect myself but I didn’t want to miss a minute of what was happening before my eyes.

What you have done with The Little Mermaid is healing middle aged Black women’s inner child. I waited my entire childhood to see a princess that looked like me. One that the other girls wanted to be and the love interest wanted to kiss.

Seeing this movie as an adult and knowing my kids won’t know what it feels like to not see themselves in Disney movies means more than I could’ve ever imagined.

Because of this movie, my son will always believe Ariel looks like his mom and sings the song his mom sings while she washes the dishes.

So, thank you for healing a piece of me I didn’t know was broken. Thank you for ensuring no other child has to feel unseen by creators of magic. Thank you for giving 40-somethings like me a moment to hold onto for a lifetime.

Love y’all like cake,

Jacalyn

05/13/2023

A Must Read. Read, Love and Learn
At 40, Franz Kafka (1883-1924), who never married and had no children, was walking through a park one day in Berlin when he met a girl who was crying because she had lost her favourite doll. She and Kafka searched for the doll unsuccessfully.

Kafka told her to meet him there the next day and they would come back to look for her.

The next day, when they had not yet found the doll, Kafka gave the girl a letter "written" by the doll saying "please don't cry. I took a trip to see the world. I will write to you about my adventures."

Thus began a story which continued until the end of Kafka's life.

During their meetings, Kafka read the letters of the doll carefully written with adventures and conversations that the girl found adorable.

Finally, Kafka brought back the doll (he bought one) that had returned to Berlin.

"It doesn't look like my doll at all," said the girl.

Kafka handed her another letter in which the doll wrote: "my travels have changed me." The little girl hugged the new doll and brought the doll with her to her happy home.

A year later Kafka died.

Many years later, the now-adult girl found a letter inside the doll. In the tiny letter signed by Kafka it was written:

"Everything you love will probably be lost, but in the end, love will return in another way."

Embrace change. It's inevitable for growth. Together we can shift pain into wonder and love, but it is up to us to consciously and intentionally create that connection.

12/03/2022

with sets