An American drifter's million-dollar mantra for happiness

Donald was my PhD advisor in Boston. I have forgotten all of what he had taught me about evolution and molecular biology, but I do remember clearly what he told me once at his house party, back in 1994.

His family had just moved into a beautiful colonial house in Cambridge and invited everyone working in his lab over for a party. While all the adults chatted over free flowing white wine, his preschool twin girls chased each other around, scattering pearls of laughter in every room.

"They are so cute," I said to Donald. "Which one is smarter?"