The Number 11

Do you ever have stuff that happens more often than you would think "average" and wonder if it is some kind of cosmic message or real-life foreshadowing? - No, I'm not an idiot!

The number 11 is like that for me. That I can think of, it's only been since I've been married to Tom, but strange nonetheless - Yes, yes, Tom IS very strange, but that is a whole 'nother blog!

I wake up several times every night, which has always been pretty typical of me - yeah, I might need a Sleep Number bed. When I wake up, I check the time, then I know if I can snuggle back into my covers and go back to sleep. Three or four times a week (sometimes less), I look at the clock and the display is 11:11. How wierd is that?

I suppose that's maybe not so "wierd" as it is. . . well, I don't know. I mean, statistially speaking, how likely is it that three times per week I would look at the clock at exactly the same moment? From the time I go to bed, usually about 10:30, to the time I wake up in the morning, usually about 6:00, there is an accumulation of 450 minutes - yes, I did have to get a pen and paper for that. Now, I'm no statistical genius (obviously), but the likelihood of looking at the clock at the same time several nights per week is pretty low. So, what kind of freaky, paranormal thing is going on?

Some (the logical thinkers in my family - dad, Mark - no, not Tom) might say that my body has just become accustomed to waking up at this average time, meaning nothing, really, except that's just how my body works! This is a legitimate theory, but leads me to ask "Why not some other type of typical-Kathy-body-function such as strangely high metabolism or boobs-that-aren't-starting-to-sag (I am 43 after all!)"? Some other more creative thinkers (Kristi, Sarah) might speculate that something in the life-forces of our universe are pulling me toward something, suggesting I should be aware of what may come. Interesting, and supports much of the spirituality behind the myth of Star Wars. (I could elaborate on this, but this has already been done more eloquently in a book entitled "The Spirituality of Star Wars" - can't remember the author, I packed the book already in anticipation of our move.) Still others (Mom, Jen, Tom) might slap me back to reality with a quick "What. . . are you kidding?"

So let's examine this. (1) I may have been about 11 when I finally kissed a boy for the first time - Armondo Flores. He was very cute, and a year younger than myself. It happened during lunch or recess at school, and I had one of my friends take a picture of it. I have no idea what happened to the picture, which is a shame. I mean, how many of us actually get to visually document our first kiss? (I may have been 12, but for this working theory, I'm being a little liberal.) (2) I was born in 1966, which, similar to 11, has two of the same digits. Hmm, very interesting. (3) More significantly, as a fan of the Indy Racing League, my favorite driver is Tony Kanaan, whose car number is - you guessed it - 11!

The evidence of cosmic intervention is mounting! This, my friends, is why I buy lottery tickets. Little signals from the beyond. . . beyond. . . beyond. . . that I must heed for my own livelihood - nay, survival!! Hey, maybe I'm supposed to be making sure the number 11 is in my lottery tickets! Geez, no wonder I never win.

* Addendum: Tom checked our PowerBall Lottery tickets later this afternoon. We won $1.00. The winning digit series had an 11 in it. *