Happy anniversary?

It's not a question of what the calendar says.

By Robert A. Johnson

ANNIVERSARIES ARE GREAT. But occasionally they take on a much deeper—and even dangerous—meaning.

For some people, anniversaries are a reason for living, or even for dying. One study shows that the number of deaths dips before birthdays, religious and cultural holidays, and other events important to an individual.

The New York Times reported a markedly higher death rate in New York during the first seven days of the new year, compared with same period in 1999. The story speculated that the great anticipation of the year 2000, and the interest in how computers would function, may have been enough incentive for many New Yorkers to live a little longer.