Recognition of people, places, and things is a fundamental prerequisite of successful living. We count on signs to guide us. Most of us take it for granted. We move through life in various speeds and count on our powers to recognize who and what is about us. It is so simple and pervasive that we hardly notice.

The obvious is with us and yet is it so obvious? Our talents of interpretation and, yes, our prejudices are sometimes awkwardly there for all to see. We can never be quite sure how others will recognize what we do. Quickly, we can come up with example after example calling forth human distinctiveness — even eccentricity.

Even in the close relationships of our families, there are those differences in the ways we see our environment. On most occasions, we can allow for major and perh…