None of us like to look foolish, but I confess that I continue to find ingenious ways to do that, usually by insisting that I am right about something, and it turns out that I am wrong. I feel there are certain areas where my experiences lend me some authority, so I speak out, giving my credentials, and then somebody comes along with the facts.

Like the other day, two of our grandsons were visiting us with their mother. Their father was away at a meeting, and they came down and spent a couple of days with us. We had a little birthday party for the oldest of the two boys, Jesse, who turned six. We gave him a set of Lego toys. I was on the floor with him, helping him to build a fort. I am not very handy with my hands, I'll admit that. The local plumber tells me he hopes I'll continue to try…