(Note: This is a repeat from my book Rutabagas for Ten. It seemed like the appropriate Labor Day message to repost.) When golfer Phil Mickelson missed an “easy” putt at the FedEx Golf Championship a while back, the expert commentators had a simple explanation. “It’s after Labor Day and he’s wearing white pants–a fashion no-no,”

When I was growing up, there were a lot of people who shared my first name: Susan, Susie, Sue, Susanna. Young, vibrant people who were defined by which version of the S name they chose. Susan was sophisticated. Susie, cute. Susanna was playful. Sue was practical. Today, all the Susans I know are grandmothers, with

At my annual physical a couple of weeks ago, the doctor asked if I wake up in the morning feeling refreshed. I remembered the question from last year’s checkup, and just like I did then, I lied. “Oh yeah. I wake up feeling just fine.” The truth is, I wake up feeling like I’ve been

“When the doctor comes in and asks if you want to see better, tell him that yes, you want to see better,” the nurse with the long dark hair and the crisp personality instructed. What am I supposed to say, I thought. “No, sir, I’m just here so you can probe and prod my eyes

An edict from on high came down the other day: “Statues, fountains, decorative walls, and other permanent features are not permitted” in the front or back of your homes. “We must apply consistent community standards to every home, without exception,” the letter said. Obviously, it was not signed with “love.” My frogs are history, I

I remember telling my new boss that I definitely wasn’t the smartest person in the company—not by a long shot—but I would be one of the hardest-working. I think if you asked him thirty years later if that was true, he would agree. This is no pat on the back. That’s just how things are

This morning my man showed me a Wall Street Journal article “The Red-Hot Book at the Center of an AI Mystery” by Melissa Korn. It tells the story of a debut crime novel that sparked a bidding war among publishers before concerns arose that AI may have played a significant role in its creation. AI

As we do every night, my man and I searched for something to watch after the news. Cape Fear was out because its final episode isn’t released until Friday. And someone in our family doesn’t like waiting. The result: We ended up watching the old Oliver Stone movie JFK. I’d forgotten how many great actors

My man experienced an emotional crisis the other day when he discovered he had gotten the wrong paper towels. They were Bounty and white. No icky floral designs. But they were NOT Select-A-Size. Worse, he didn’t purchase just one. He got a twelve-pack. It was a disaster of epic proportions. He even confessed his sin