On Mitochondria, Mince Pies, and Patron Saints

Or, how little control we have over beginnings, middles, and endings

The present is uncertain terrain, but we humans are very good at narrating our lives to the contrary. Yes, horrific events are unfolding elsewhere—not just halfway around the world, but also in lives much closer to home. Still, we are endlessly gifted at organizing our attentions around more coherent and manageable chunks of story: family dramas, work p…