Because I think I'm rational, I don't think magically, ever, right?
Wrong.
Below is an article by Benedict Carey of the NYT on the subject of magical thinking. Infants think magically until they're about three, and then are taught to pray.
On the wall of the San Francisco Hall of Justice lobby are several large marble plaques bearing the names and dates of San Francisco Police Officers killed in the line of duty. Many are names that I've at least read about, since when these tragedies occur they are covered in the news and in the courts. You look at the names, and dates, and note that we haven't had an officer killed in the line of duty in a number of years, have we? Good.
That's how I was thinking the other day when I bought a cup of coffee at the little stand opposite these death memorial plaques.
That night an officer was killed in the line of duty.
I haven't been able to look at the marble memorial since.