For the past 40 years, when I wasn't teaching in the elementary school, my husband and I traveled to several countries, such as Europe, Jerusalem, Korea, Japan. Bringing back many memories and materials aided me in teaching my classes about other countries, and what we share in common. For 20 of those years, my students in school grew in awareness and appreciation of other cultures and customs.

At my recent monthly visit with my physician, who advised that she could find nothing wrong with...