While I was driving last week, I had to pull over. I saw my first murmuration of autumn. 

Murmurations are the patterns that birds create when they gather en-mass and build fluid, rapidly shifting shapes. They are spectacular coordinated flight patterns of birds moving as one large, shape-shifting cloud. Murmurations consist of hundreds—sometimes thousands—of birds flying together in three-dimensional, ever-morphing patterns. 

I wrote a column about these murmurations last year, but I am so captivated by them that I had to do more research. Scientists and birders are equally fascinated by murmurations. They have documented murmurations lasting as long as 45 minutes.

European starlings and African Queleas are known for murmurations. Other birds fly in flocks and formations, but do not murmurate. Flocks are groups of birds that congregate and fly in patterns, such as the “V” formation of geese, but they do not create the fluid patterns of a murmuration. On the Eastern Shore of Maryland, you can see European starlings, red-winged blackbirds, and common grackles performing some form of murmuration. They tend to gather over open fields of harvested grain and are especially prevalent at dusk.

European starlings are well suited for this spectacle because their lateral eyesight enables them to have almost a 360-degree field of vision. In spring and summer, starlings pair off and raise their young. But when breeding season is over they gather in autumn and begin their murmurations. Incidentally, the European starling is not native to the Americas, but approximately 100 were brought from Europe in the 1890s and released in New York’s Central Park. Now there are over 200 million in North America.

While I watched the murmuration, it appeared as if the birds were gathering into a dense mass and then scattering. They seemed to speed up and then spread wider apart. But these are optical illusions. The birds are, in fact, flying at a steady speed, playing “follow the leader” by copying the behavior of the nearest bird in their group of seven. 

The rules to achieve a murmuration are surprisingly simple. The first is the rule of SEVEN. Murmurating birds follow their seven closest neighbors. 

Here are the rules birds use to create a murmuration.

1. Follow and turn with the seven nearest birds. They play “follow the leader.”
2. Fly toward their group, without crowding.

Why do birds murmurate? Scientists don’t know. Some believe that they do it to confuse predators, a recently disproven hypothesis was that they did it to generate heat, because it is typically done in the fall and winter. Some ornithologists speculate that they might do it just for the joy of moving together. I have seen animals, such as squirrels, play. There is no reason not to believe that birds create their performance art for the fun of it.

So, we aren’t sure why they do it, but their synchronicity is magnificent, their dotted patterns unpredictable. It looks like fun. So, maybe they are doing it just for the sheer joy of creating performance art. 

I don’t know how we could find out, but it doesn’t matter to me…I just love their art.

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Angela Rieck, a Caroline County native, received her PhD in Mathematical Psychology from the University of Maryland and worked as a scientist at Bell Labs, and other high-tech companies in New Jersey before retiring as a corporate executive. Angela and her dogs divide their time between St Michaels and Key West Florida. Her daughter lives and works in New York City.

When I first started working at Bell Labs in the 80’s it was all about service. When it snowed the front-line employees in the Bell Telephone companies would get in their car, kiss their spouse and children goodbye and drive to the office. The goal was to keep the phones working. Service to their customers was their priority.

But in the early 80’s the company cared for their employees and their employees cared for the company. A company was a lifetime commitment on both sides. That has dramatically changed with layoffs and employment-at-will contracts. Employees no longer owe their companies their loyalty, since the company favors profits over loyalty.

Things have changed a lot since the 1980s, now technical support means talking to someone who makes me do the same steps that I did before calling them. They do not understand that my calling them is a last resort, not a first choice.

Most call centers are overseas, and while they do their best, sometimes the accents are difficult to understand.

Customer service seems worse now because companies are prioritizing cost-cutting and profit over service. The increase in ineffective automated systems like chatbots, and a lack of incentives for companies whose focus is on profits also contributes to frustration. This creates a disconnect where companies believe they provide good service, but customers consistently experience long wait times; difficulty reaching a human; repetitive, unhelpful automated systems; or companies demonstrating a lack of accountability. It seems like the goal for customer service is to get us to give up.

Which brings me to my most recent service story. I purchased a new Toyota Prius four months ago. The design has changed from the old reliable Prius and made into a sportier model. With that came thin tires that cannot handle rural roads. I have already had to replace three tires. I have never had a flat tire since moving here 10 years ago. According to the Internet, the tires on this model of the Toyota 2025 Prius are a known issue. My tires have popped driving on a rural road and gotten a ding from a 1 ½ mile cut-stone driveway. Since there is no spare tire, I have had to have my car towed. Obviously a widow such as myself cannot keep this car in this area, but the dealership (Koons Toyota of Easton) has basically said “too bad for you.” They require that I pay for each new tire and by now I have spent over a thousand dollars with no end in sight to the relentless beat of towing and new tires. They made it clear that I have no recourse, they will not take the car back, give me a good deal on a different make of car, or cover the tires under warranty; because the “Lemon Law” does not apply to tires or rims.

It’s true that I am stuck with this poor customer service. 

But I can write.

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Angela Rieck, a Caroline County native, received her PhD in Mathematical Psychology from the University of Maryland and worked as a scientist at Bell Labs, and other high-tech companies in New Jersey before retiring as a corporate executive. Angela and her dogs divide their time between St Michaels and Key West Florida. Her daughter lives and works in New York City.

I finally succumbed to learning Mahjong. A number of people had asked me to join in Mahjong games and I was recalcitrant. I remember the senior women in my husband’s country club playing Mahjong and I vowed I would never be that person.

I am that person.

My neighbor invited everyone in the neighborhood to join a game where we would all learn and share our lives as part of the game. I relented, because it was just for fun and not a competitive game. 

I was nervous that it would be hard to learn. It wasn’t. But I am still learning all of the rules.

I have become almost addicted to the game.

I am not alone. While there are no statistics about how many players there are, it is obvious that the number of players in the game is growing. And it is growing among the young. Approximately 50% of those who play are over 60, but 2024 statistics from an online Mahjong application reported that the 18–24 age group had the second highest percentage of players followed by 25–34. These numbers are only for online play and do not reflect the broader mahjong community. In major US cities there are Mahjong cafes and pop-up events. Mahjong is trending on Tik Tok and Instagram.

Mahjong was invented in the 1880s by field workers in China. Apparently sparrows were a pest that made a lot of noise in the trees. The game was invented to be a positive energy to that negative. Therefore, the sparrow features prominently in the game, Mahjong is sparrow in Chinese. There’s a bamboo tile representing the number 1 and the noise of the tiles is supposed to simulate the chatter of the sparrows.  

More than 40 variations are played around the world, although the core tiles and the way the tiles are stacked remain the same. Each of the players will draw 13 tiles. In American Mahjong there are a total of 166 tiles. It includes three suits–-Bamboo (Bams), Characters (Craks) and Dots, as well as Winds, Dragons, Jokers, and Flowers. While tiles may vary from set to set, almost all pay tribute to Chinese culture. 

In the American version we use a card issued by the National Mah Jongg League. The card is a condensed list of over 50 possible winning “hands.” The player begins with 13 tiles and picks up and discards tiles in turn to create a “hand” that exactly matches a winning “hand” specified on the card. A winning “hand” will typically include a combination of tiles—Suits, Dragons, Winds, Flowers and, if you are lucky, Jokers. Jokers serve as wild “cards.” There are many rules governing picking up tiles and using jokers. My group is still learning all of them.

Each year, the National Mahjongg League releases a new version with different combinations to keep the game fresh and to keep us on our toes. The proceeds from the card go to charity.

Mahjong is not just fun to play, it fosters community and provides a way for people to connect away from phones and computer screens. The game’s strategic nature helps boost mental skills, and it is associated with improved memory and slowed cognitive decline. That is an added bonus for seniors and young adults alike. 

So if you pass by a community center and hear clicking and clacking, don’t be alarmed, it is just a group of people playing Mahjong.

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Angela Rieck, a Caroline County native, received her PhD in Mathematical Psychology from the University of Maryland and worked as a scientist at Bell Labs, and other high-tech com

There is a new pest to watch out for. Lone star ticks are taking advantage of our rising temperatures and moving northward. They are reproducing rapidly and have been found as far north as Maine. An entomologist and disease specialist at Cornell University believes that due to their adaptability and the rising temperatures, there are no limits to the spread of these ticks. Growing numbers of deer and rabbits, which host these and other ticks, are also putting us at risk. Yes, those cute little bunnies could be carrying these ticks and depositing them on our lawns. Unfortunately, these ticks are native to the US and there is not much to stop them.

Experts are warning that lone star ticks could infect millions of people with a disease called alpha-gal syndrome. Cases of alpha-gal syndrome have risen dramatically as these ticks have spread. Alpha-gal syndrome has grown from just a few dozen cases in 2009 to as many as 450,000 today. The exact number of alpha-gal cases is unclear due to poor data collection and undercounting. Experts expect this allergy to grow as lone star ticks proliferate. They predict that alpha-gal could end up affecting millions of people.

If you have a dog and use three-month tick protection, be aware that the protection only lasts for two months for lone star ticks.

Like all ticks, lone star ticks are gross. But these are especially heinous because they can trigger alpha-gal syndrome, a bizarre allergy to red meat and dairy.  

I was at a dinner with a friend who was infected with alpha-gal syndrome from a lone star tick. She discovered this little guy last year and had no idea the trauma that he would bring. Within several hours of eating red meat, dairy or a by-product, she breaks out in a blotchy skin-like-hives that are excruciatingly painful. Alpha-gal syndrome also increases the risk of heart attacks. Eventually many sufferers experience anaphylactic shock while consuming red meat, dairy, or a by-product.

It is not as simple as avoiding red meat and dairy, she explained that by-products are everywhere. For example, she can no longer take capsules as the capsule itself is made from a by-product.

Alpha-gal is a confounding condition because it doesn’t cause an immediate allergic reaction. Symptoms often appear hours after consumption. The syndrome is not caused by a pathogen introduced by the tick, but the tick’s bite creates an allergy to a sugar molecule found in red meat and dairy. Researchers think the condition could lessen over time, but it gets worse if there are additional tick bites.

Since it is relatively new and confusing syndrome, medical professionals may be unaware of the condition and may be unable to diagnose it properly. In the case of my friend, she was diagnosed by an allergist directly out of medical school, who recognized the symptoms and tested for alpha-gal syndrome. 

My friend asked me to spread the warning. If you are experiencing these symptoms, be aware and report this to your medical professional. This syndrome is growing rapidly, yet still relatively rare in our area, and medical professionals may prescribe doxycycline believing it to be Lyme disease.

Lone star ticks are aggressive bugs that actually follow human and animal targets if they detect them. In other words, they will hunt you down. There is also the prospect of brushing up against vegetation containing a massed ball of juvenile lone star ticks, known as a “tick bomb”, that can deliver thousands of tick bites. They are too tiny to be seen.

It is not known why the bite of lone star ticks suddenly started causing these allergic reactions. Cases have been found in Europe and Australia, although in low numbers. It is predicted that other tick species including deer ticks might also spread alpha-gal syndrome.

There is no cure for this condition at this time. The current treatment is antihistamines. Sufferers must refrain from red meat and dairy, take antihistamines daily and carry EpiPens in case they go into anaphylactic shock. 

Let’s face it, ticks are not our friends (or friends of our animals). They spread Lyme disease, alpha-gal syndrome and other rare but dangerous diseases. So be careful out there!

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Angela Rieck, a Caroline County native, received her PhD in Mathematical Psychology from the University of Maryland and worked as a scientist at Bell Labs, and other high-tech companies in New Jersey before retiring as a corporate executive. Angela and her dogs divide their time between St Michaels and Key West Florida. Her daughter lives and works in New York City.

Scientists have recently reported on the results of a universal cancer vaccine that boosts the immune system to fight tumors and to enhance existing cancer therapies. This vaccine is designed to work across multiple types cancers.

The vaccine targeted solid tumors, which are more resistant to immunotherapy than blood cancers. This could become a universal paradigm that can be used to treat cancer and stop treated cancers from coming back.

This cancer vaccine could be especially useful for types of cancer that usually don’t trigger a strong immune response, including, pancreatic, ovarian, and some types of breast cancer. These tumors hide from the immune system making it difficult to use immunotherapy, so it’s possible that this type of vaccine could help expose these cancers to attack.

Similar to vaccines for the flu and COVID-19, cancer vaccines are designed to help the immune system by training it to recognize proteins and allow the immune system to attack. While conventional vaccines aim to prevent disease (including two cancer vaccines for HPV and Hepatitis B), cancer vaccines are being developed to remove existing cancer tumors and prevent treated cancers from returning.

Conventional vaccines and cancer vaccines typically use the same mechanism. The cancer vaccines teach immune cells to identify unique features of cancer cells and destroy them. 

The experimental vaccine was developed using messenger RNA (mRNA), which also was used for the first COVID-19 vaccines. In this early-stage cancer vaccine, the mRNA carries instructions that raises the body’s first-line immune defenses. In particular, the vaccine aims to boost the body’s production of immune messengers that spot cancerous tumors. The signals rally the immune system to attack the tumors and stop the cancer’s growth. This signaling is key to destroying tumors at the early stage of development.

The vaccine has been tested on several cancers in mice, including melanoma, brain, bone and lung cancers and the results were promising.

While human research is needed to confirm how well this approach works, the encouraging results in mice offer interesting possibilities. Future studies will address key questions around safety, consistency, and long-term effectiveness in real-world cancer patients.

That is the exciting news…however.

Recently the U.S. federal government has moved to cut hundreds of millions of dollars in funding for mRNA vaccine development. Led by Robert Kennedy, Jr, the misinformed head of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), it is slashing its investment in mRNA vaccines impacting 22 projects totaling nearly $500 million.

To date, influenza, RSV, bird flu, CMV (a herpes virus that can cause serious developmental problems in infants), Zika, Epstein-Barr virus, and hepatitis B vaccines have been targeted. 

Robert F. Kennedy Jr is the founder of the anti-vaccine group the Children’s Health Defense. Despite a plethora of research stating otherwise, he claimed that mRNA vaccines “fail to protect effectively against upper respiratory infections” and said that the HHS will shift to funding “safer, broader vaccine platforms.” These alternatives were defined as whole-virus vaccines and unspecified technologies. Despite research showing that these are less efficient, slower, and less effective.

The arguments made by RFK Jr are not based on scientific research and correspondingly, most of his statements are false. 

Not continuing to investigate the usage of a technology that has proven itself in the COVID 19 pandemic puts Americans in harm’s way for bird flu and another pandemic.

Before mRNA technology, traditional vaccines typically took between three to five years to develop and even longer to test, with mRNA it takes months. Other countries, such as China, recognize the power of mRNA vaccines and medicines and are doubling down on their investment. If there is a pandemic, such as avian flu we’re going to be caught asking China for its vaccines. Scientists now consider the United States to be an unfriendly place for mRNA-based technology.

For now, this cancellation of funds will not impact uses of mRNA technology in cancer vaccines. Even though the cancellation was specific to infectious disease, it really discouraging to the entire industry.”

Besides cancer research, mRNA technology is also being used with CRISPR. CRISPR is a gene editing tool that has significant promise for curing genetic disorders. The limitation of CRISPR gene editing is being able to stop it. mRNA makes gene editing possible because it enables the insertion of the corrected genome and it stops it from over-replicating. CRISPR has been used (experimentally) with cancer, diabetes and sickle cell anemia. The CRISPR technology was introduced via mRNA. mRNA is safe because the body makes and then clears the mRNA as part of its normal process. 

By undermining mRNA-based work, HHS is potentially limiting the ability to use a personalized medicine approach of gene editing that could save millions of lives every year.

With the cuts in mRNA funding, there are now other countries that are recruiting American companies and scientists. In addition to moving their brick-and-mortar operations overseas, these American companies will start developing drugs for other countries. This will impact America’s leadership in biomedical discovery.

Why is there this resistance to mRNA? In a word, its complexity.

Some Americans don’t understand that mRNA is a natural substance, a natural part of our body. Every cell in our body has mRNA — thousands of copies of mRNA. With mRNA-based medicines, we’re actually taking advantage of a natural system that exists within our body and using our body to help itself. 

Let’s hope that our country can survive four years or more of this type of scientific ignorance.

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Angela Rieck, a Caroline County native, received her PhD in Mathematical Psychology from the University of Maryland and worked as a scientist at Bell Labs, and other high-tech companies in New Jersey before retiring as a corporate executive. Angela and her dogs divide their time between St Michaels and Key West Florida. Her daughter lives and works in New York City.

I was watching the documentary about Billy Joel and he mentioned that he decided to stop writing songs at 44 years old. The documentary was fun to watch, as I got to listen to his music, but it got me to thinking about the issue of creativity and age.

Does creativity necessarily decline with age? The answer is a complex yes and no.

Songwriters report losing their creativity as they age. Billy Joel was most prolific in his 20s and 30s. Bob Dylan famously wrote Blowing in the Wind on the back of a napkin. Dylan claims that he can no longer write songs at the level that he used to write them. Another musical artist who reported a decline in his songwriting abilities was Bruce Springsteen. Most rock and pop musicians do not continue to write songs after their 30s or 40s.

When I was at Bell Laboratories, I worked with a number of particle physicists who informed me that this phenomenon of creativity declining with age was prominent with major physics breakthroughs. Albert Einstein was 26 when he developed the Theory of Relativity. And while he continued to work, he was never able to successfully find a solution to the Theory of Everything.

Several artists were also most creative in their younger years. Picasso invented Cubism when he was 26 years old.

Yet, many artists and musicians continued to innovate as they aged. Beethoven wrote his Ninth Symphony when he was 53 years old (and deaf). Handel wrote The Messiah when he was 56 years old. Mozart was especially productive at the end of his life (but he died at 35). 

The relationship between age and creativity depends on many factors, one of them is the field of study. Some creative domains—such as songwriting, physics, science, and mathematics tend to have early peaks and relatively rapid declines, whereas other fields that require extensive knowledge and skill such as medicine, history, some art, humanities, and philosophers—show later gradual peaks of creativity. 

Thirty-one Nobel Prize Winners in the field of economics were evaluated as to when they made their most significant contributions to the field. There were two peak cycles of creativity, one very early in their careers and another later in their life. The difference between those who experienced a peak in creativity during their mid-twenties and those who peaked in their mid-50s, was the type of creativity.

People who were conceptual innovators—those who think “out of the box,” challenge conventional wisdom, and create paradigm shifts were most creative at an earlier age. The second group built on their knowledge and discovered new and innovative methods within existing frameworks. They worked through trial and error at a more gradual pace.

Examples of young, conceptual innovators include Picasso, T.S. Eliot, Melville, and Einstein. Examples of innovators who produced their best work later in life include Cezanne, Matisse, Robert Frost, Virginia Woolf, and Darwin.

Career age is more important than chronological age. Some late bloomers do not truly hit their stride until their 60s or 70s (think of Georgia O’Keefe). They sometimes had uninspiring jobs for decades before discovering their true passion.

There are several reasons for the decline in creativity with age. Abstract reasoning may be affected by brain changes associated with aging. Speed of processing and working memory decline with age.

But one of the most important reasons for creativity decline is becoming more accepting of and steeped in the norms and a desire to work within them. When young, it is easy to dismiss the work of others, but as we age and become familiar with the work, we are more appreciative of the thought and effort that went into it.

Another reason for creativity decline may be a decrease in motivation, sometimes believing that we have accomplished what we wanted to accomplish, lessened ambition, or a feeling that a “prime time” for creativity has passed. Billy Joel cited that the tiresome nature of rhyming, his process (which required him to work alone), and that he had said all he wanted to say—had contributed to his desire to give up pop songwriting. (He did explore other genres and wrote an album of classical music.)

There are instances where creativity increases with age. Older adults have a wealth of knowledge and experience that can be valuable for creative problem-solving. This is especially true when applying knowledge from one field to another. 

Our brain continues to form new neural connections throughout life. Thus, there are ways to improve and maintain creativity as we age. One way is to allow our minds to wander and wonder. Creative breakthroughs often occur when the mind is not actively focused on a specific task.

Other sources of creativity are interacting with others, learning new disciplines, and engaging in new experiences. The good news is that creativity is not a static ability that inevitably declines with age. It’s a complex process that can be maintained and even enhanced if we are willing to exercise it.

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Angela Rieck, a Caroline County native, received her PhD in Mathematical Psychology from the University of Maryland and worked as a scientist at Bell Labs, and other high-tech companies in New Jersey before retiring as a corporate executive. Angela and her dogs divide their time between St Michaels and Key West Florida. Her daughter lives and works in New York City.

August 3rd marked the 10th anniversary of my husband’s death. I found myself listening to the music that we fell in love to. It felt like his death happened a lifetime ago and just yesterday at the same time.

While I am living a happy life and am blessed by family, dogs, friends, health, and comfort, it is not the life that I would have chosen.

Grief is a funny thing. I no longer feel debilitated by his loss as I did for the first three years. But grief still reappears, in bursts. Sometimes I ache for the life that we would have had…but most of the time I am happy, appreciating the accomplishments of my daughter and her husband, adoring my dogs, enjoying writing, loving my friends and family. 

But still, I believe that my life would be very different if he had not have died. 

For one thing, I imagine I would still be living in New Jersey and be near our daughter in New York City. When people think of New Jersey, most think of the NJ Turnpike and Garden State Parkway and the ugliness of it. But those of us who have lived in New Jersey know that it is a secretly magical, beautiful place. It is a hidden landscape of rolling hills and lush summers. History, gardens and green grass surround its residents. My husband, our daughter, and I lived in an old Victorian house with a beautiful garden, complete with a 70-year-old fountain as its centerpiece.

I imagine that my husband and I would have sold that house and bought a smaller one. We would have built a garden, as we created gardens wherever we went.

I imagine that we would still be going to Key West in the winters, but the house would have been renovated. My husband loved to take a house and make it our own.

I imagine him beaming at our daughter’s wedding as she chose a simply wonderful man to spend the rest of her life with. Their wedding was a joyous event that still makes me smile. He would be pleased with all of her accomplishments.

I imagine that we would have continued entertaining. He loved to entertain. We gave large Christmas parties, hosted major family gatherings, and even held events for close friends.

I imagine that he would have started writing. He was a better writer than I am. So much better that I had him write all of the cards and notes even to family. 

I imagine that we would have spent a lot of time with our family, especially at family gatherings.

I imagine that I would be able to sleep. His snoring never bothered me; it reminded me that he was next to me.

I imagine that I would still have become a writer, but with his support and encouragement, I would have tried to publish my novel.

Of all the things that I miss, it is the loss of his love and encouragement that aches the most. No matter what I did, I knew that there was someone back home who thought that I was the best person in the world. 

But imagining is just that. He is gone forever and has been gone for 10 years. 

My life is a lot different than it would have been if he were here, but that doesn’t mean that it isn’t good. I am very blessed.

But can’t help imagining, especially on the anniversary of his death…

Angela Rieck, a Caroline County native, received her PhD in Mathematical Psychology from the University of Maryland and worked as a scientist at Bell Labs, and other high-tech companies in New Jersey before retiring as a corporate executive. Angela and her dogs divide their time between St Michaels and Key West Florida. Her daughter lives and works in New York City.

Our vocabulary would not be complete without idioms and sayings. But I wondered the other day where these originated. So I compiled a list:

Cut to the chase—get to the point. This idiom comes from the film industry. Early films often had long storylines before getting to the chase scene.

Red-letter day—an auspicious, good day. This had its origins in ecclesiastical calendars. In the Middle Ages, feast and saints’ days were marked in red letters. 

Nest egg—set aside money for the future. While collecting eggs, farmers often leave one egg to encourage the chickens to continue laying eggs in the same nest. 

Baker’s dozen—usually 13 instead of 12 pastries. To stay on the right side of a Medieval law to prevent bakers from selling underweight loaves of bread, bakers started to give an extra piece of bread away with every loaf.

Sink or swim—fail or succeed entirely by one’s own efforts. During Puritan times, a person’s innocence was judged by casting them into a lake. If the victims sunk they were innocent (but, unfortunately dead), but if they floated they were guilty. 

Curry favor—to get someone to think highly of you. This came from a Dark Ages play about characters grooming a chestnut horse in order to win favor (the original word was favel which meant deceit or flattery). Eventually, the play was forgotten, but the idiom remained.

Butter someone up—flatter someone. In ancient India, the devout would throw butter balls at the statues of their gods to seek favor and forgiveness.

Dead as a doornail—completely dead. Door nails used to be hammered in the doors and then hammered sideways to prevent the nail from being pulled out. Such a nail was called a dead nail.

Bite the bullet—do something unpleasant that you have been putting off. If there was no anesthesia, doctors would ask the patient to bite down on a bullet to distract them from pain. 

Dyed in the wool—someone with a deeply ingrained belief (e.g., dyed in the wool Republican). In medieval times, people applied vegetable dye directly to raw wool rather than to yarn or finished cloth, resulting in a more consistent and durable color. 

Red herring—mislead or distract from the main issue. A dried, salted, and smoked herring takes on a reddish hue and has a pungent odor. It was used for training hounds to recognize stags for hunting. 

Give someone the cold shoulder—to ignore someone. In the Middle Ages if someone overstayed their welcome they were served leftovers, such as a cold shoulder of mutton from the previous night’s dinner.

Hue and cry—protest loudly. In the 1600s, if you saw a crime being committed, you were obliged to raise ‘hue’ and ‘cry.’

Play devil’s advocate—speak in opposition. Pope Leo X created the post of Promoter of the Faith. The official’s job was to argue against a proposed canonization of a saint by bringing up all that was unfavorable, which led to the unofficial title of Devil’s advocate.

Throw down the gauntlet—issue a challenge. The piece of armor that knights wore to protect their forearms and hands was called a gauntlet. A knight would threaten a fellow knight or enemy to a duel by throwing one of his gauntlets on the ground. 

Break the ice—get a conversation started. When trade ships got stuck in the ice, the receiving country would send small ships to “break the ice” to clear the way. 

Mad as a hatter—crazy. In earlier times hat makers were poisoned by mercury in hat felt. They would become shy, irritable, and develop tremors that made them appear crazy or “mad.”

Cat got your tongue?—doesn’t speak. The English Navy used to use a whip called “Cat-o’-nine-tails” for flogging. The pain was so severe that it caused the victim to stay quiet for a long time.

Barking up the wrong tree—misguided. This refers to hunting dogs that chased their prey up a tree. The dogs barked, assuming that the prey is still in the tree.

Bury the hatchet—make peace. When negotiating peace, Native Americans would bury all their hatchets, knives, clubs, and tomahawks.

Caught red-handed—guilty. An old English law punished anyone for butchering an animal that wasn’t his. He could only be convicted if he was caught with the animal’s blood still on his hands.

The whole nine yards—above and beyond. During World War II, fighter pilots were equipped with nine yards of ammunition. When they ran out, it meant that they had tried their best.

Let one’s hair down—relax. Aristocratic women wore elegant hairdos in public that were usually pulled up. The only time they would “let their hair down” was when they came home and relaxed.

Straight from the horse’s mouth—direct from the source. The idiom originated from horse racing, where people would get information about horses directly from their owners or trainers. 

One mistaken idiomatic origin is the origin of the rule of thumb. This is often believed to be based on a law granting husbands permission to beat wives and children as long as it was a stick less than the size of a thumb. This is simply not true. In fact, in the 17th century the term was used as a general sizing guideline by the trades before there were uniform measurements.

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Angela Rieck, a Caroline County native, received her PhD in Mathematical Psychology from the University of Maryland and worked as a scientist at Bell Labs, and other high-tech companies in New Jersey before retiring as a corporate executive. Angela and her dogs divide their time between St Michaels and Key West Florida. Her daughter lives and works in New York City.

Last week’s column about the sounds of summer can’t be complete without talking about the inevitable summer doldrums brought on by relentless heat. I feel sort of listless and lack motivation to even write this column (which I normally love to do). 

So, I went on the Internet to research what to do about these summer blues. Here is what the experts recommended.

The first step is to appreciate what summer offers. Experts recommend that we embrace a positive mindset (of course if that were easy, I wouldn’t be researching how to end the summer gloom). 

As always, mindfulness is important. The experts recommend that we try to focus on the present moment, and find something to enjoy about it, such as the outdoor beauty (from inside.) This can help improve mood and motivation to engage in the activities that are offered.

Summer offers a unique freeness that is absent in the other seasons. This year, the unusual rains have brought an unexpected green and lushness to our summer landscape. The Crepe Myrtles are making a spectacular debut by ignoring the summer heat. The limelight hydrangeas are emerging and rudbeckia welcomes all with its yellow flowers and brown centers. The fireflies delight each night and there are outdoor concerts in summer evenings. Summer offers special events such as the plein air festival. It is recommended that we try to sign up for at least one event per month.

Summer would not be summer without the plethora of fresh fruits and vegetables that are available at the farm stands, farmers’ markets, and even grocery stores. A fresh salad and freshly prepared fruits and vegetables reminds us how good healthy eating feels.

Experts recommend that we prioritize self-care. This could be a nap, a relaxing shower, exercise, a massage or facial, healthy fresh vegetables and fruit, or anything that cares for your physical body. Practicing self-care reminds us that we are important. 

If we get a day that gives us a break from the heat, take advantage of it. A short walk, gardening, sitting by the pool, a brief bike ride, or anything that allows you to enjoy the outside. Exposure to sunlight and fresh air can boost mood and energy levels. 

This is a good time to set some goals. I decided to paint my bathroom. It allows me to stay indoors away from the heat and paint a room that is in desperate need of a refresh. It is important to set realistic goals, so I am going to paint the room in two days rather than try to push it into a single day. 

Try something new: prepare a new recipe with fresh vegetables, read a book, or watch a show or movie that you might not typically choose. Summer can be a great time to learn a new skill, take a class, or try a creative activity. I have decided to improve my Spanish. Duolingo is an app that provides an interesting way to learn a foreign language. It is free unless you want a deluxe version that offers AI chats in the language.

Plan a day trip. This is a time to enjoy a museum, go to the beach, visit an arboretum, or check out our historical sites, especially those along the underground railroad. Because summer is slower, we can take extra time to enjoy it. 

Consider journaling. Writing can be a powerful way to stay focused. It is good to chronicle what we have done during the day. It allows us to reinforce good habits and see what we have accomplished even if we are a little bored.

While trying new events also remember to keep some structure in your daily routine. This includes consistent sleep patterns and breaks. Each morning, I ride my bike before it gets too hot, so I have added that to my schedule and make myself ride even if I would prefer to stay indoors.

This is a good season to spend time with friends and family. Social interaction and shared experiences boost both mood and motivation. This can include joining clubs, such as a book club, hosting a party, setting up a regular game, or visiting others. 

Avoid negativity if possible. It is easy to get down on ourselves when we are isolated by the weather, so think positive thoughts and avoid those people who tend to criticize or be negative.

Because it is summer, it is important to drink plenty of water throughout the day to combat the effects of heat and fatigue. Eating healthy always improves mood, but treat yourself to those summer delights. Is there a better time for watermelon or ice cream than mid to late summer? 

Most of all remember that these “dog days” will be over soon and cooler temperatures will prevail.

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Angela Rieck, a Caroline County native, received her PhD in Mathematical Psychology from the University of Maryland and worked as a scientist at Bell Labs, and other high-tech companies in New Jersey before retiring as a corporate executive. Angela and her dogs divide their time between St Michaels and Key West Florida. Her daughter lives and works in New York City.

Each season has its own scent and soundtrack. I can close my eyes, ignore the temperature and know what season it is by these sounds and the scents. 

Autumn brings the rustle from leaves being swept across the pavement, and the crunch from these leaves as we walk through them. Canada geese honk in the sky and crows caw to notify their kin of a newly harvested field. The air is dry and crisp, so the sounds from hunting and other machines are louder and more differentiated. 

Winter is cold silence, especially the surreal quiet after a snowstorm, when every sound seems to be absorbed into the surroundings. When there is no snow, echoes and sounds are louder because there is no flora to absorb them. Most birds have migrated or gone into the woods; only the cars or the lonely sound of a dog barking remain.

Spring adds warmth to the cool air, and a natural perfume wafting from the flowering bushes and trees. When the rain comes, I hear the sounds of the rain pattering onto the pavement. The birds sing endlessly as they celebrate their return and prepare their nests for their families.

Summer is also unique. In the early morning, the paradactyl squawks from the great blue heron rookery on the nature trail echo in the sky as one parent returns from night duty and the other takes flight in the morning to hunt for food. 

The whining lawn mowers, leaf blowers, and weed whackers punctuate the peaceful silence but leave the sweet smell of cut grass. There are mid-summer celebrations that bring loud pops and booms that pierce the night air. 

Then there are the thunderstorms, miraculous and frightening events where bright lightening briefly illuminates the sky, followed by the clash of thunder. Just before the rain arrives, the air takes on a metallic scent. The rain is no gentle pitter-patter as in spring, instead it pounds the ground and slaps the windshield if you are unlucky enough to be driving through it.

The spring flowers are gone, but some scented flowers remain. The honeysuckle’s sweet smell lingers in the humid air, phlox and roses share their perfume. 

Along the rivers and creeks there is a faint smell of brine, decay, and fish that lingers in the warm, humid aid. Blue-gray rivers wind leisurely around the green patches of cattails and woodland along their sandy banks. A cloudless, pastel blue sky is quiet except for an occasional lone osprey circling overhead. The houses lining the shore are grand and crisply painted, featuring long docks with shiny white sailboats and power boats. 

Mid-summer also brings the ubiquitous farm stands. You can smell the sweet scent of corn, ripe red tomatoes; dark green zucchini with white speckles; creamy yellow squashes; green and white freckled pickling cucumbers; deep red-, green- and yellow-colored peppers. The fruits come and go with the seasons, mid-summer brings the sweet smells of peaches, cherries, dirt-encrusted cantaloupes, and watermelons of all shades of green.

The chirps and melodies by the birds are fewer in the summer, but their songs provide a soprano soundtrack in the hot, humid air. Summer brings the percussion instruments. The locusts whine, a low rambling hum that reaches a crescendo, slowly dwindles to silence and recycles. The large, annual cicadas emerge from their cocoons and add to the percussion section with a sound that resembles a mechanic’s ratchet. Their relentless beat has earned them the nickname “dog day cicadas.”

At dusk, I can hear the quail (bob white) calling. Only a few chirps and tweets remain as the rest of the birds settle down on their branches or nests for the evening. As darkness falls, the sounds quiet down, the fireflies sprinkle light, the summer heat rises from the pavement and the long day ends, only to repeat itself the next day. 

There is something about summer, its soft, lazy days. But unfortunately, with this heat wave it is best enjoyed when at daybreak and during the comforting summer nights.

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Angela Rieck, a Caroline County native, received her PhD in Mathematical Psychology from the University of Maryland and worked as a scientist at Bell Labs, and other high-tech companies in New Jersey before retiring as a corporate executive. Angela and her dogs divide their time between St Michaels and Key West Florida. Her daughter lives and works in New York City.