Does anyone have a particular date that has proven to be a bad luck day in different years by the fact that unpleasant things seem to happen on that day? For me it’s May 1. The first time was when I had a memorably disasterous date back in 1987, but that pales in comparison to what has happened more recently. Last year my grandfather passed away on this date, and then just yesterday I found out that my father has prostate cancer (though my mother is optimistic that since it was caught early it will be treatable). Still, superstitious as it may be, I have come to dread this particular day in the years to come.