As seen from the actuarial angle
Later in life, we recall odd things. Like, from high school, the bi-weekly visits from the “guidance counsellors. He, in a gray suit, and she, in a beige blouse. They may have had names, but that wasn’t of lasting importance. The came equipped with the tools of their trade: mimeographed handouts on the various professions we might wish to follow, once finished with our basic educations.
Based on my interests, I could have (but did not) become a veterinarian. One door closes, etc. However, another professional mimieograph marked me; wounded me, actually. Actury. I was screened away immediately. Low math skills, low interest in improving same. Next. But I went through life wondering what such a profession did. Yes, insurance. Actuarial tables. Statistics. I now know that all days of equally dangerous; that uptick in food poisoning at holiday time can be attributed to the less sanitary aspects of granny’s kitchen. And the increase in automobilie accidents at the start of summer vacation came from father driving like a maniac, with a carful of maniac children to Maniac Beach. The day, by itself was just an ordinary day.
Today, in keeping with it being a holiday season, we get news from folks from afar. Folks we haven’t seen in awhile. And the news tends to be very sombre. Lots of illness and death. Again, an actuary would tell you that just as many people are engaged in that most human of activities (dying), but we tend to notice it more when the numbers are skewed. As in, don’t despair; math has your back. Why, I feel better already.
