My late father-in-law, Bob Sager, was a pharmacist by training and a gifted fellow in a variety of other ways as well, including simply the art of being a quality human being; much of what I’ve learned about being a good person, I picked up from him.

Also among his many attributes were wisdom and a way with words, and among the words he liked to use was the following bit of wisdom: “Always and never are two words you should always remember never to use.”

Good advice if you think about it: Practically nothing is either an “always” or a “never” proposition.

Still, some things are close, and with that thought in mind, I offer the following bit of biographical information:

– I never eat blue or red M&Ms.

– I always listen to NPR on my way to work when I take my truck rather than my motorcycle.

– I never use batting gloves.

– I always wear my Billy Sims jersey on Thanksgiving, in honor of the long-woeful Detroit Lions, who always play on Thanksgiving.

– I never eat cranberries or pumpkin pie.

– I always bounce the ball three times before I shoot a free throw.

– I never take off my wedding ring.

– I always drink my coffee black.

– I never get sick.

– I always buy stuff being sold by little kids.

– I never swear at anyone but myself.

– I always pray to start and end each day.

– I never go a day without getting at least some exercise.

– I always put my index finger behind its “tunnel” when putting on a baseball glove.