So many times in a person’s life, we think if we had it to do over again, we would have done it differently. But, would we have? Dr. Heideggar’s Experiment, a short story by Nathaniel Hawthorne, explores the premise that, given the opportunity to roll back the years and become better humans, we would not do so. As we were in our youth, we would revert to type and repeat our mistakes, not having learned a single thing. Dr. Heideggar …
I have never been able to understand why people make New Year’s resolutions. At the beginning of every year, I hear people talking about their resolutions . . . “This year I’m going to . . .” and it could be any number of things. They resolve to give up smoking, go on a diet, exercise, socialize more, socialize less, write a book, pay off all their credit cards, stick to a budget, etc. Whatever problems they have been wrestling …
About twenty-five years ago, late at night, I stopped in at a restaurant that offered foods that were billed as health foods. It was one of those informal places that had a stripped down version of tables and chairs and you could either eat there or take your food with you in paper bags. As I said, it was late at night. I was the only customer and there was only one employee and as she was wrapping up my …