For work purposes, I first made my way to the United States on a short business trip in October 2007. I remember it vividly. I was not long married, and my boss was putting me on the long haul into Texas and Louisiana.

When I was 50 years younger and 50 pounds lighter, I tried my hand at pole vaulting. It’s a peculiar track-and-field event that involves running at full speed with a heavy pole in hand toward a crossbar set high off the ground.

A $500 “nano-camera” that can operate at the speed of light has been developed by researchers in the MIT Media Lab.

So I had a heart attack last month. No. Literally. And I’m using the word “literally” correctly here.