Tales of a coffee-holic: Knowing people

I’m sure we’ve all seen a news clip in which a neighbor or casual acquaintance of a rapist or murderer spoke about how nice and normal the person seemed to be.

It happens all the time. Of course, a person can’t really tell much about neighbors by pleasantries exchanged while getting the newspaper or taking out the garbage. If you think you can, you’re sorely mistaken. Most anyone who says they act the same way in public as they do in private is lying.

But I often wonder how many people are out there who keep their true feelings, impulses and past experiences to themselves altogether. True, no...