Even though I was in my sister’s wedding ceremony 33 years ago, I wouldn’t have remembered the date if it wasn’t for my father. Dad is a numbers guy. I don’t know how many other ambidextrous people who are also good at math or have a “thing” for numbers. Yet I’m thinking that Dad, if he hadn’t been born in 1938 and schooled under egregious “separate but equal” conditions, he probably would have been an engineer because of his ability to fix things and affinity for math.
Instead, his math skills were not nurtured. Nonetheless, he’s always “figuring” number patterns. If you have a piece of paper that’s important, don’t leave it lying around Dad. Eventually, his numbers will be all over it. Then, he chooses some 3-digit number that appeal to him and play it as his Pick 3.
More of a pastime, than an addiction. Dad doesn’t merely rely on the number patterns that he toys with. Significant dates like birthdays, famous people’s death dates, anniversaries, and so on are all fodder. They don’t even have to be exact.
That’s how I know that 6/24 is my sister’s anniversary. Anytime a combination of those three numbers come out as a Pick 3, Dad will inevitably say, “That’s Renee’s anniversary data.” So, whether I wanted to remember my sister’s anniversary or not, I can never forget.
A year and a quarter of being in the pandemic changed the economic landscape where I could no longer freelance. My last day as a 100% freelancer was on 6/24/2021. Being a full-time employee stopped the downward money spiral.
Fast forward to 6/24/2022, SCOTUS overturned Roe v Wade.
I had the cheek to call my sister and ask her how she felt about women losing reproductive rights on her anniversary. I don’t remember her answer, but she has two daughters; so it hit doubly hard.
I try not to give into superstitious beliefs. Let’s just say that I’m beginning to grow wary of 6/24. Then again, my sister has been married for 33 years; so, at least in that respect, it’s been an auspicious date.