Aloha Daze

Ok. I’m not a superstitious man. I’ll walk under a ladder if it’ll drive a friend nuts to watch me do it. Having said that….

Those that know me well know that I have this number that follows me throughout life. I see it in places all the time. I mention this to people, and they look at me like I’ve grown a third arm. When I point out the number, backed by photos and evidence, people are stunned. (Mostly me.)

My magic number is “214.” I grew up in Dallas, Texas, where the area code is 214, so I get a lot of grief from family. (”Yeah! I see that number all the time when I look in the phone book! Yuk yuk yuk.”)

Only I see it in other places all the time. It’s gotten to the point where I just ignore it and laugh. (I still remember watching President Bush give a speech on aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln in May 2003. In the background was, I believe, an F-14. Printed in big numbers on the side of it was “214.”)

But today the numbers are all out to get me.

Yeah, it’s 06/06/06. Feh. Just another day. I don’t care. So I went about my business today. Paid a bill. Took the car to the shop (needed a tire.)

Then I left the auto shop.

At 2:14pm.

Of course.

Ignoring that, I went to Waikiki, where there was practically nowhere to park. I finally spotted the only open metered parking stall, and parked. The meters are numbered.

I parked at meter 214.

Laughing, I just got out of the car, paid the city it’s share of quarters for the day, and went about my business.

Afterwards, I wanted to stop at Sam’s Club to buy a couple of things. As is usually the case, I got everything I needed, and grabbed something I didn’t – an impulse buy – on the way out.

My total? 3456. That’s $34.56. Sheesh. I stare the receipt in disbelief. Then I note the time I checked out printed on the receipt: 8:41 PM. Only it’s printed in military time.

20:41.

I drove straight home, walked into my apartment, and locked the door.

I’m not superstitious. But I’ve had enough. I’m going to bed.

I’m looking forward to 06/07/06.

With my luck, I’ll wake up at 2:14 AM.

RLR