Samuelson

In “Bug Hollow,” Ellis is the only son of Phil and Sybil Samuelson.

In contrast, “Bug Hollow’s” Phil Samuelson is a sturdy, calming influence — the conciliator who brings a measure of stability when things get sticky with Syb.

The three Samuelson girls, including Ellis’ child, Eva, pass through different versions of their lives, as so many of us do, trying on and shedding identities.

That experience evokes a famous observation attributed to economist Paul Samuelson: “Investing should be dull. It shouldn’t be exciting. Investing should be more like watching paint dry or grass grow. If you want excitement, take $800 and go to Las Vegas.”

As Joan Benoit Samuelson negotiated the hairpin turn into the Coliseum tunnel, ran past the USC locker room and onto the stadium’s red synthetic track for the final 400 meters of the 1984 Olympic marathon, her focus wasn’t only on finishing, but on finishing strong.