I didn’t attempt another bargain with God until 1980. At that point, I was married with a 17 month old and a newborn. I had been a light smoker for a couple of years, yet couldn’t seem to shake the habit despite having tried a number of times.

 

While I was pregnant, I experienced numbness down my right arm.

 

 

I froze.

 

I had two babies to take care of. My mother, grandmother and cousin all had M.S. I feared I would spend motherhood in a wheelchair or bedridden. I made a deal with God on the spot.

 

 

I was jubilant! And I never, ever, smoked another cigarette.

 

Years later, my daughter and I took up horseback riding. As in other sports, superstition was common and widespread. I had my own unique superstitions and rituals.

 

 

Others’ superstitions around the barn were accepted and respected. We were one big happy neurotic family.

 

 

It is noteworthy that our superstitions themselves were 100% within our control, convenient and…. cheap.

 

 

Scientists say a low sense of control creates a high need for superstition. This explains why even a great like Michael Jordan wore his lucky North Carolina training shorts under his Bulls uniform during every game of his career.

 

John Elway, the famous Denver Broncos quarterback, sat in the same seat on team flights, drove in the same lane on the way to the airport and engaged in many other rituals and superstitions. Finally, tired of managing them all, Elway decided the only superstition he would have would be to have no superstitions at all.

 

After I finish organizing my coffee mugs, I’m going to give that some thought.