My Unofficially "Lucky" Number

I may not be considered a math genius, but I do have a bit of an interest in numerals.

Specifically, how certain numbers always happen to make a frequent reappearance in our lives.

I'll give you an example of what I mean.  Take the film "The Number 23", which stars Jim Carrey.  This is a film in which the number 23 seems to follow Carrey's character around to the point where he becomes convinced that that the number is linked to apocalyptic doom.

Or, if you remember the television series, "The Mole", there was one season in which the clues to determining who the "Mole" was were linked to the number seven.

And, if you're into the television series, "Bones", there's just something about 4:47 in the morning that seems to leave people wondering what it all means.

Well, as it so happens, there's one number that happens to be a recurring one for me.  One that happens to be a part of me no matter where I go.  And whether it is the number itself or its infinite multiples of said number, I seem to be forever linked with it.

Here's the number in question.

Nine.  The number that falls between eight and ten.  The number in which the sum of the digits of any multiple of nine will always add up to either nine or a multiple of nine.  Like...

9 x 2 = 18 (1+8=9)
9 x 11 = 99 (9+9=18, 1+8=9)
9 x 40 = 360 (3+6+0=9)

Well, I guess you could consider me the poster child for everything having to do with the number nine.  There are so many references to the number nine in my life that I am almost convinced that the number is stalking me.

Even in my date of birth, I can't get away from it.

My date of birth, written numerically, is 5/18/81.  Two of those three numbers are multiples of nine.

In fact, when it comes to my siblings, all of us were born on a day that is a multiple of nine!  I was born the 18th, and my siblings were born on the 9th of the month, and the 27th of another month!  9, 18, 27.  How's that for freaky?

Oh, and the age difference between my sister and I?  Nine years.

Here's another good one for you.

The date that I had my one and only surgical procedure was February 12, 2011.  Seems like a date that has absolutely no link to the number nine, right?

Add the digits togther.

2+1+2+2+0+1+1=9!

Like I said, nine appears a lot in my life.  I'm actually kind of shocked that nothing significant in my life happened on September 9, 2009, or September 9, 1999.  Those dates had a LOT of nines in them!

Oh, wait.  I earned my general high school diploma in 1999.

Anyway, the number nine doesn't just seem to appear in dates in regards to the life and times of this blogger.  It's also significant in places as well.

One of the rooms where I had the most classes in high school was our computer lab.  The room number of the lab?  Room 333.  Add the digits together, you get NINE.

Grade eleven math was a rough year for me.  I only scored a 54 that year.  But I improved my grades significantly in grade twelve to earn a 90 per cent in the course.  And yes, I am aware that 54 and 90 are multiples of 9.

I've played most of the "Final Fantasy" games, and my favourite one happens to be the ninth one.  Go figure.

Let's see.  The years 1989, 1998, and 2007 were all significant ones in my family.  1989 was when my eldest sister got married, 1998 was when two of my nephews were born, and 2007 was the year I earned full-time status at work.  I'll bet you that if you divided all those years by nine, you would have an even number.  Go on...try it.

By that logic, I should expect something awesome to happen in 2016.  After all, the nine never lies.

Hmmm...what other examples of nine can I think of?

Well, I just recently saw "Big Hero 6", which if you turned the title upside down, it would read as "9 Oreh Gib".  But, hey, it was a good movie and I think it's probably my new favourite Disney film.  Oh, look, it says here that it was the 54th animated feature film made by Disney.

Oh, wait...54 is a multiple of nine.  I CAN'T ESCAPE IT!

Urgh...maybe if I turn on the radio for a bit.

Um, bad idea.

Worse idea.

Worst idea ever!

Sigh.  You know...I just suppose that I have to face facts.  I will forever be linked to the number 9 no matter how hard I try to escape it.  In some ways, it has become kind of an unofficial lucky number for me.  I may as well embrace it.

And, while I'm thinking of it, I should play the lottery and choose all the multiples of 9 as my numbers.  Maybe if I'm lucky, the jackpot will be nine million dollars on that day...