“My only requirement for life is that I don’t get stuck in a rut.”

– Malin Akerman, Swedish Canadian actress, model and singer

“I grew up in the country,” he said. “Back when most roads were dirt.”

“Yes, I remember,” I replied. “Most of them were hell when it rained.”

“We had this swelling clay,” he said. “Stuck to everything.”

I wondered where this conversation was going but had coached self-esteem long enough to know that it was usually best to let a reminiscence unfold naturally. I motioned for my client to continue. He paused for a moment, adjusted himself in the chair and continued the story.

“If you tried to walk in the clay, your boots would soon weigh 2...

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