“Step on a crack, break your mama’s back.”

I believed those words. As a kid, I carefully navigated sidewalks like they were minefields, doing everything possible to keep my feet off those dangerous little cracks. I was not about to be responsible for putting my mother in traction. Mom still had back pain, though. I blame my siblings.

That was not the only superstition I carried around as a kid. I did not walk under ladders. I was extra careful around mirrors. And I never opened an umbrella indoors. Call it superstition. Call it irrational. I call it better safe than sorry

Of course, I had no problem ignoring a few other supposed rules. I played with black cats. I rarely waited an hour after eating before going swimming. I cracked my knuckles. And I crossed my eyes for what seemed like minutes at a time, despite the repeated warnings that they might stay that way. They never did. So far, so good.

I have even accumulated a few good-luck charms over the years. I still have an old horseshoe, and I make sure it hangs with the open end facing up. I also have a four-leaf clover pin that is about 40 years old. I am convinced it still has a little magic left in it. And then there is a small Hawaiian good-luck statue a friend gave me when I was a kid. I have kept it all these years, which probably means either it is lucky or I am incapable of throwing things away.

Then, a few years ago, I learned a new superstition. I was at an industry conference having coffee with a friend from Florida. He noticed me stirring my coffee with a fork and informed me that doing so was bad luck. I had never heard that one, but now I can’t get it out of my head. I never realized how often I used a fork to stir creamer into my coffee. Now I set the fork aside and search for a spoon. Most of the time. When I do use a fork, my back hurts. Coincidence? I think not. Could my coffee-stirring technique somehow be connected to my childhood sidewalk habits? Or are my kids now stepping on cracks in an elaborate attempt to break their daddy’s back? At this point, I am not taking any chances. I am going to polish up the horseshoe.

Have a terriffic Tuesday, and thanks for reading.

Shane Goodman
Editor and Publisher
Times Vedette digital newsletter
shane@gctimesnews.com
641-332-2707