As a child growing up in California’s San Fernando Valley, I looked forward to letters and packages from my great-aunts Ethel and Mildred. Their sister was my maternal grandmother, and I’m grateful I was named after her and not Ethel or Mildred. My spinster...

Google “Mary Scott” and you’ll see why I use my maiden name, Kolada, as part of my professional name. There are numerous Mary Scotts, some also in Ventura, including another patient of my primary physician, which has caused confusion. Some people remember my name...

When I was in second grade, the nun who taught us made me classroom monitor. This meant that after lunch, as my classmates filed in and colored in their coloring books until class started, I monitored. I patrolled the room and distributed demerits for infractions like...