Lily Tomlin | 03/12/2009 11:00 pm
Lily Tomlin's Numbers Obsession
In response to: It's Friday the 13th. Does this date spook you?
I like to think I’m not superstitious; yet, I almost always reflexively toss spilled salt over my shoulder. I snatch hats off the bed. I used to be obsessive about the numbers 11 or 22. Years ago, I wouldn’t book a flight if the numbers added up to 11 or 22 or 33. I know, I know; if a flight should add up to these numbers, they ultimately add up to single digits: 2, 4 and 6. But that wasn’t my method of computation. I’ve even jumped up and pushed my way past the flight attendant and out the door of the plane because some series of numbers somewhere in the cabin or on the plane’s exterior added up to 11 or its multiple. Then, of course, I had to face all the friends and family who used to be allowed to the gate to see people off. "What’s wrong, Lily?" "Is something wrong with the plane?" Ay yi yi!
Anyway, adding up to a single digit as your final computation doesn’t wash for me. If the penultimate total before going to a single digit adds up to some form of 11, that’s where I stop: For instance, 9/11 adds up to 11 — 9 plus 1 plus 1 equals 11 — before it adds up to 1 plus 1 equals 2. If you’re obsessive, you make up your own reasons and rules. Imagine my reaction when 9/11 DID happen. Friday the 13th isn’t the spooky one here; it is I who am the spooky one. (Note: the nominative use of the pronoun ‘I’ for pleasure of the grammarians.)
I did pretty much get over this obsession with the number 11, even though one friend used to call me "Missus Elebens" and the name still pops up now and then. Years later, when I had to obtain a copy of my birth certificate, the copy was numbered 1122. Does anyone know if that would be the original number or not?
Let me add just for the record: Did anyone else learn the use of the nominative case of "I" by reciting the children’s ditty, "Barnacle Bill the Sailor"? Ditty to come.
Anyway, adding up to a single digit as your final computation doesn’t wash for me. If the penultimate total before going to a single digit adds up to some form of 11, that’s where I stop: For instance, 9/11 adds up to 11 — 9 plus 1 plus 1 equals 11 — before it adds up to 1 plus 1 equals 2. If you’re obsessive, you make up your own reasons and rules. Imagine my reaction when 9/11 DID happen. Friday the 13th isn’t the spooky one here; it is I who am the spooky one. (Note: the nominative use of the pronoun ‘I’ for pleasure of the grammarians.)
I did pretty much get over this obsession with the number 11, even though one friend used to call me "Missus Elebens" and the name still pops up now and then. Years later, when I had to obtain a copy of my birth certificate, the copy was numbered 1122. Does anyone know if that would be the original number or not?
Let me add just for the record: Did anyone else learn the use of the nominative case of "I" by reciting the children’s ditty, "Barnacle Bill the Sailor"? Ditty to come.
Read more about: 9/11, Barnacle Bill the Sailor, Friday the 13th, math, Numbers, September 11, Superstition
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33 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment
Countrywoman
5 is beautiful on a domino, isn’t it.
Lily….my sister has an obsession with numbers which are the same numbers in a set of 4…like 1111, 2222, 3333, etc. She sees these type of sets all the time on license plates, forms, menus, etc.
She asked me to look up a bunch of stuff for her on the computer about people seeing these sets of numbers and the meaning. I was shocked at the number of people who hold these significant. When I was researching for her, I just put in People seeing 1111 numbers and I got a ton of items.
Hello Dear Ms. T …… you’ve been missed!
Feng Shui says it all for me with regard to numbers! Thanks for the enlightenment, too!
Hugs ……
Here is a book about recurring numbers and synchronicities:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1601630476/ctoc
Rain,
Thanks, cool.
This made me happy. First of all, I hardly consider myself superstitious, but I DO have a similar obsession with numbers. I believe numbers have more meaning than people care to admit or even realize.
For example, my favorite number happens to be 13. I can’t explain it other than it’s just always been a recurring number of good luck and fortune throughout my life. Also, it’s in my nature to feel attracted to stuff which society deems taboo or unconventional or even downright bad/ominous/evil. (Any professional atrologer can and will confirm this rebellious trait as being "in my chart" lol…) So when I was told at a very young age that 13 was a BAAAD number, I immediately felt a closeness to it. And to this day, it’s come in handy for me. Especially at casinos. Haha.
As for the obsession itself, I avoid gas stations that don’t have at least 13 pumps to drive up to. And I will wait until #13 is free. Or, if I’m desperate and have no options, I will put $13 worth of gas in my car, no matter what number the pump.
By the way, when I clicked to respond to your post, there were already 13 comments.
Kryssi
The funny thing about this is that there was a Friday the 13th last month as well. My oldest’s son was born on May 13th, so every so often it comes around for his birthday. I had a friend that turned 13 on Friday the 13th, that suited him just fine, he loved it. Isn’t 13 a lucky number in some cultures?
Dear Ms. Lily:
Thank you for sending me the e-mail which told me you had posted (is that the right word? - sounds a bit odd). I have missed seeing you and hearing your logical thinking. I hope you don’t mind that a cat is writing to you because I am. Sorry, I don’t know my numbers very well. I do know there are 4 letters in my name but I don’t know my birth date those numbers can’t put any spells on me so I guess I just won’t worry about it. Love and purrs, Dice, the Nice