WHEN THREE IS NOT MORE THAN TWO

I sort of miss math.

That's another portion of my brain that powered down when I fractured my skull a few decades ago.

I miss my hearing more, but math was something that just 'came' before. It wasn't just memorizing multiplication tables and plugging numbers in, but there was a current there, a stream that mixed up the figures out and brought out the answers.

One of my favorite books in the whole wide world is "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn", and I would quote verbatim the section about how Francie assigns numbers human characteristics... unfortunately, I don't have a copy of the book here, and can't find enough on-line to quote it.

But I can relate to it - and if you haven't read the book before, you now have no excuse, so read it, and this is in Chapter 22.

Okay, so what were we talking about?

Oh, right, math.

So although any of my natural math-talents are gone like a freight train, I don't have a problem doing math - it just isn't as much fun anymore.

And especially there is no joy in trying to explain to certain individuals how certain basic mathematical principles work - like if you don't spend money, then it is there when you need it in an emergency - it If you pay things on time, you do not get charged late fees or get anything nasty on your credit report.

There is such a thing as assigning priorities even outside of math - and I cannot seem to communicate that.

N0MB3RS

Numerology puts meaning with certain numbers, combinations, and/or sequence.

And don't we all?

13 is lucky for me - I was born on it.

6 and 12 are good numbers - I guess just because they are friendly.

7 and 9 are mean - I mean,  just look at them!

I like 21 because it is so lonely.

I was so excited to find our granddaughter, just like me, will wait and watch for a digital clock to go from 5:51 to 5:55. And we only like sequences like that - 1:23 or such mean nothing.

This entire post began because yesterday I posted my 666th blog entry.

And I don't believe it is the "sign of the beast" or satanic - it's just some buddies hanging out together under the streetlight.

So are there any numbers that mean something to you? And why didn't they explain what the numbers in "Lost" signified in the very last show?!!

4 4 4

I'm not into numbers.

I mean, I am into numbers with things such as 6 is a great number, but 3 is petty and mean.

42 is a mellow number, and 87 is just spiteful.

But 666 being a sign of Satan - heck, my land line that just got dropped when I began wireless internet has a 666 in it. I don't think that increased the numbers of telemarketers who called.

I especially get confused with things like the word Hello → 8 + 5 + 3 + 3 + 6 = 25 → 2 + 5 = 7, which means that you shouldn't ride elevators in months ending in the letter Q.

And Tom Cruise being born 7-3-1962, so break down the birthday numbers: 7 + 3 + 1 + 9 + 6 + 2 = 282 + 8 =101 + 0= 11 is his "lifepath" number - could that be why he's only 5'7"?

Did the people who come up with these things get beat up by a calculator in their youth and are fighting the repressed memories? Have an incredible crush on their trigonometry teacher? Were locked in rooms for long periods of time with only accounting logs available for amusement?

Here is another example from http://spiritlink.com/repeating.html:

"I have been receiving a steadily increasing number of e-mails from people who have noticed repeating patterns of numbers. Most people report three repeating digits . . .

"Where do these repeating numbers show up? .. order confirmation and reference numbers, "pin" numbers, car registration numbers and license plates, (and the) digital clock.

"It’s a lot easier to notice repeating numbers on a digital clock than on a traditional "big hand-little hand" clock. Multiples such as 3:33, 4:44 or 11:11 are hard to even spot on a traditional clock."

Harder to spot? Are you kidding?! Has anyone in their entire life ever looked at an analog clock and thought, "Wow! It's two-twenty-two, and that's three number in a role!"

(However, I will openly admit to opening my eyes in the middle of the night, seeing "1:09" and lying awake then until it becomes 1:11)

So I guess it's different if you just like numbers, but a little weird when you believe numbers.

This entire rambling blog began because I noticed a significant number sequence to night - two blogs ago, I posted my 444th blog on this website.

If that isn't more than a little scary, I don't know what it.

2009... NOT!

I like numbers. Back when I had a complete brain, math was one of those things that just came to me. And I loved it.

At least until I was a junior in high school. I wanted to take calculus, but was scared enough by the teacher - Mrs. Steele - that I simply quit. I had my general ed requirement in match already, so it wouldn't slow down my graduation.

(Mrs. Steele, if you're reading this, I'm sorry, but you were short and old and real DEFINITE. Everyone who had had you as a teacher said you were IMPOSSSIBLE. And you scared me. Sorry)

After I lost half my brain, numbers suddenly became the enemy (much like Mrs. Steele). The same integers were there, and the same equations, but now the answers weren't. And I was obviously somewhat dyslectic - I would see 48, and write down 84.

Gradually I became resigned to the fact that I had left behind a very good friend, and thank goodness BYU took my ACT math score to count as the math requirement - no more math classes required.

I still hold on to some math prejudices, however. Even numbers are almost always better than odd numbers, with some exceptions - like 13, 7 and 49. And even though it's an even number, 8 is pretty wicked.

But 2009. It's just WRONG. I don't know exactly why - maybe if I had a full brain again, I could explain this in a logical, coherent manner.

But I can't, so here is what I am going to do -

Relying solely on fanning fleeting feelings and passing provisional

passions (I just love words, don't you?), I want to begin a campaign to NOT have next year be 2009.

Instead, in January we will begin THE YEAR OF 2010 MINUS.

There - that should work.... shouldn't it?