I woke up this morning wishing that I were ept.

I know quite a few people who are ept. A friend and colleague who, although he was a successful academic, makes beautiful musical instruments and bakes cakes. A neighbour who professionally is a geologist is also a master gardener and garden designer. And can put in watering systems. An administrator in the security business who also builds barns, installs kitchens, creates entire decorative wheelbarrows out of wood. A son who creates a virtual reality business but also built, along with his father in law, a pole house.

These people all do demanding intellectual and creative jobs but also are able to do a myriad of practical tasks.

And then there are others, like yours truly, who are inept. In grade eight, I passed the shops course because when I was using the lathe, I pressed too hard on the chisel, the chisel slipped and my thumb got lathed. I