I'm not superstitious, but during a trip to Grand Cayman in February 2007 when I learned that kissing a stingray would be followed by seven years of good luck, I didn't hesitate to act.    On a frigid weekend in January of 2014 my furnace broke down and had to be replaced.  A month later I learned that I needed to have six vertebrae fused.   In March I underwent the spinal fusion surgery, and it has been largely downhill since then.  February 2007.  January 2014.  You do the math.  I began to wonder if there was something to that Cayman legend.  There was only one way to find out.


Mom and  I departed for our 5th consecutive summer vacation on a nonstop flight from Dulles to Grand Cayman.   After a  spring that  was more laden with bad news than good, this was a much needed getaway, and we thought the underwater sights of the clear, warm Cayman waters would provide the  peace and comfort we sought.  Plus, I was due to kiss a stingray to  ensure seven more years of good luck.