In August of last year, I underwent total left knee replacement. Knowing the right one could give out at any moment, I closed my eyes, held my breath and had the other one replaced three months ago, exactly one year later. Mercifully, this time was different in several ways.

Where did the term “underdog” come from? In the 1800s, there were dog fights, and when a dog was pinned down by the winning dog on top, the terms “underdog” and “top dog” were coined. Now, the term “underdog” refers to a person or team that is likely to lose.

Recently, while watching my grandkids, I started thinking about my own childhood and remembered the whimsical, silly things my mom did to entertain her children and grandchildren. Was I as fun? Did my grands find me amusing?