When I was small, mom went to see a fortune teller and brought back mixed news.
I had a good future, she was told, but would be a late bloomer. Although not
filthy rich, I woundn't be lacking money. Last, I would die in a foreign land.

After 40+ years, I would say that the forecasts have been largely accurate. I aced in
school, safe-landed in North America, earned an above average income, and made
a good living. The bloomer part is to be seen, i.e., how late and blooming, but at least 
I think I have passed the stage where many struggle with mid-life crisis.

Now that we have settled down in the U.S., even the last prophecy seems likely
to prove true. Mom was not happy about it as death was an uncomfortable topic in
the Chinese culture. But one has to die and die somewhere. I cannot complain.

My wife, however, pointed out a glaring contradiction. "What's the point of blooming
without making big dough?" she snorted. They were irreconcilable to her.