About a year ago, fellow Beacon columnist Andrew Gordon men­tioned in one of his columns how other­wise rational, fact-based people can be a bit super­sti­tious. This defi­nitely struck a chord with me as a rational engineer who is a bit super­sti­tious.

Basically, I have tended for years to have little things that I do “for luck.” For instance, I tend not to immediately open important letters or emails, for example those containing blood test results. This is obviously …

It was a hot, sunny day. My husband Daniel had spent most of it clearing entrenched, obstinate English ivy from our fence. He enjoys yard work and the exercise was good for him, so I left him to it. Later on that night, a red, blistery rash appeared all over his hands, arms, neck, and legs. It would seem that some of the vines were mixed with poison ivy.

Taking the advice of a physician assistant, Daniel applied copious amounts …

Our local high school football coach asked me earlier this year to speak to the seniors on his team on a weekly basis. I have always enjoyed public speaking, so I jumped at the opportunity. Although I am finding plenty of meaningful activities to keep me busy since retiring nine months ago, speaking with the players is one of the most enjoyable things I do now.

My talks with the team members are not lengthy – perhaps five to ten …

Last month, my husband and I went to Vancouver Island to attend my mother’s 90th birthday celebrations. We had a lovely time at an outdoor garden party in the community garden where she volunteers. We teased her that she is tracking Queen Elizabeth, since they are now the same age. We had greetings sent out from the Prime Minister of Canada, the premier of British Columbia, and my mother's provincial representative (member of the legislative assembly).

The following day, we …

It was during one of those insomnia-is-the-boss-of-me nights that I found myself flipping through channels on the television, trying not to get sucked into info­mercials pitching revolutionary new steak knives, miraculous space age teeth whiteners, or ultra-absorbent super sponges.

I eventually landed on a replay of a no-score soccer match between two English football clubs. I reasoned that the game’s back and forth would surely lull me to sleep. But then I heard this familiar song being belted out by …

Webster defines a “mentor” as “an experi­enced and trusted adviser.” I have served in my work life as an adviser, and I think it fair to say I’ve been viewed as both “ex­peri­enced” and “trusted” when I’ve taken on that role. However, I have never really con­sidered myself to be a mentor.

Sure, I have given people advice, but it was never in any kind of a formal setting. The whole “mentor-mentee” thing came into vogue in recent years, but …

I have been silent for a couple of months, dealing with sea changes to my treat­ment regimen. These changes have thrown some major stumbling blocks into my life, and I am not yet ready to write about that increas­ingly touchy topic.

Fortunately, an intriguing and intense conversation with my good friend and sister-in-law Margaret provided me with a conundrum to puzzle over and this month’s column topic to boot.

I don’t have any answers, but readers might.

Margaret and I …