This year will soon be coming to an end and it's been a milestone for me.

I'm finishing my 40th year working in communications, which means I've reached the winter season of my career.On top of that, it's been 50 years since I first tried my hand at writing for a newspaper, Tuscarora Times, 1966, back in school days. It was a mimeographed publication serving 300 sixth-graders packed inside a two-story, one-grade-only, brick school house in Schuylkill Township.I still have a copy of that paper and it makes me smile to read it and remember a much simpler time.I never second-guessed my decision to go with writing as a career. It's a fascinating way to spend your time because each day is a learning experience. Over the years, I processed more information than I ever could remember. The more I learned, the more questions I had. And that's normal.If there's one thing writers do more than writing, it's ask questions. I've done that of others and also of myself. Writing has helped me evolve and grow.I thought about this recently because I saw a news release about an interesting person coming to visit our region - Theresa Caputo. She's the Long Island medium with the extra-large hairdo. She'll appear in the Lehigh Valley in January.I'm sure you've seen her gig on television. She claims the dead speak to her or that she has some kind of psychic power. Things like that always pique my curiosity.Naturally, I keep an open mind. I would never pass judgment or dismiss what anybody believes. Each of us has a unique journey and it's not ours to judge.But I also believe nothing matters but the truth. As a freethinker, I believe it's healthy to have doubts, so I've learned to question everything.I don't plan to interview Ms. Caputo, but I thought of questions I might want to ask a psychic.For example, if psychic ability is real and clear-cut, then why aren't psychics winning the lottery every single day?And how about those psychic phone hotlines? If workers at those places are really psychic, wouldn't they call you first?We should never be afraid to ask questions.Famous scientist Carl Sagan put it this way: "Every question is a cry to understand the world. There is no such thing as a dumb question."Just for fun, here's a list of some random questions to ponder regarding all kinds of topics. Many are culled from the Internet. A few are tongue-in-cheek and will make you laugh, so enjoy:Could someone ever get addicted to counseling? If so, what would they do for treatment?What hair color do they put on the driver's license of a bald man?If you had X-ray vision and closed your eyes, wouldn't you still be able to see?And if you can see through everything because of your X-ray vision, wouldn't you actually see nothing at all?If it's zero degrees outside today and it's supposed to be twice as cold tomorrow, how cold is it going to be?If you stole a pen from the bank would it still be considered a bank robbery?If you're on a plane going at the speed of sound and you walk from the back of the plane to the front, are you walking faster than the speed of sound?If you decide that you're indecisive, which one are you?Where does the white go when the snow melts?Can a judge sentence a homeless man to house arrest?Why doesn't Tarzan have a beard?Why do they sterilize needles for lethal injections?If you get cheated by the Better Business Bureau, who do you complain to?Why did Superman wear his briefs on the outside of his tights?If a chronic liar tells you he is a chronic liar, do you believe him?If pro is the opposite of con, is progress the opposite of congress?If FedEx and UPS were to merge, wouldn't it be called Fed UP?OK, that's too many questions for one day. I realize you're busy with preparations for the upcoming holiday.Enjoy your day and I'll see you on Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend.Contact Donald R. Serfass at

dserfass@tnonline.com.