I have a long history of labeling things. I label books I've read so I know which of my many books I've finished. I label movies I loan out so I'm sure to get them back. I even used to label my athletic socks that looked just like those my then-teen daughters had so I was sure to wear my own, not theirs (and vice versa).

I believe my affection for labeling began 32+ years ago, when my husband and I — then just dating and coworkers — worked...