Do you read the “Best Days To…” in the Farmers Almanac? It is the part of the Almanac where they tell you what day is best to do certain things. It is based on the moon’s phases. Like Feb. 10-11 were good days for livestock breeding. Feb. 17-18 were the best days to castrate animals. Feb. 27-28 will be the best days to graft or pollinate plants and trees. For people related items, Feb. 6-7 were the days to quit smoking; Feb. 16-17 were the best days to wrap up projects and Feb. 6 and Feb. 11 were the days to start successful diets (oops, missed that one!)
I like numbers. Well, no, let me clarify. I like numbers that have meaning. Numbers that need to be subtracted, multiplied, divided or raised to some power I have no appreciation for. In the bible the number seven plays a significant role. It is referenced 860 times, with the main, “And on the seventh day God rested” stealing the stage for all other sevens.
The digit 1 followed by 100 zeroes, was the inspiration for the search engine Google. It also resulted in the word Googolplex or 10^Googol, which became the namesake of Google’s offices.
The number 13 has an air of mystery and danger to it. Think Friday the 13th or 1313 Mockingbird Lane where the black cloaked Munster Family lived. American Airlines and Delta have banned flight number 191 because of the numerous airline accidents associated with that number.
Is that significant meaning or superstition, you ask? Well, if someone is superstitious about a number doesn’t that justify the number’s meaning? It does to me. I have known several cowboys who won’t think of castrating a colt until the right day in the moon phase to assure proper healing. I also know people who will add an extra thing to their to-do list so there are an even amount of things to cross off.
Odd numbers are my comfort zone though. It could be because those years have habitually been good to me. I graduated high school, college, and got married all in odd numbered years. My husband was born on the 5th day of the month. I was born on the 3rd day of the month. When our daughter was also born on an odd day I literally breathed a sigh of relief. Don’t ask me why. It just felt better knowing she was born on an odd numbered day.
Isn’t it funny what makes us tick as humans?
There is a part of me that believes too much of a good thing can make things go awry though. Storm Atlas blew into western South Dakota on an odd day in an odd year. September 11 happened in 2001. And this past January 2015 has been one of the hardest months several of my friends have had to deal with in a long time. Which drives home the point that a little “odd” and a little “even” can make the world just right. Have you found the right balance this February? If you are hosting a bull sale I hope the numbers fall in your favor. If you are calving I wish for you plentiful numbers. If you are having a hard time making ends meet, I pray the numbers soon begin to jive for you.
©Codi Vallery-Mills 2015