Abstract

1^y mother is never late for anything. In fact, she's infuriatingly early for doctor's appointments, movies, personal dates. When my siblings and I were kids, we heard over and over again, Hurry up. You don't wanna be late. My brother Guy and I are our mother's children-never late for anything, usually five or ten minutes early. My habit of being early has paid off for me, I have to admit. I've gotten the job more than once because I was the first one there. Employers see me as dependable and conscientious, and my friends know they can count on me to be there when I say I will. My sister Sue, though, chose to respond to our mother's chronic promptness by rebelling-she's late for everything. When I lived with her for a year in Anchorage, I found myself adopting her way of thinking for a while. Doctor's appointment across town in twenty minutes? Sure, I've still got time to eat