Sunday, November 11, 2007

A Thankful Heart is a Grateful Heart

http://dontgivehimcrackers.blogspot.com/ and thier call for giving thanks...
It's Day 1 for me…and I find myself thankful for numbers.

Today is 11/11/2007 and I would simply love for my newest granddaughter (due yesterday) to enter the world on this day. The date bounces and rhymes when you say it. It’s almost a chant…eleven, eleven, two thousand seven…
It also has a significant value to me. While it may seem silly to the average person, it brings great delight to me. For years I have looked at the clock when it was 11:11, never meaning to, it just happens. I look up and there it is, 11:11, on my computer, my wristwatch, the clocks around the house, bank clocks, etc. If I am in a safe place, like home or on the phone with someone who is understanding of my ambiguous behavior, I will blurt out, “11:11! It’s 11:11!” They are like little mini celebrations, of what, I wasn’t sure. Until this past year. I realized my birthday, 6/5/65, (Yes, I just put personal information on the Internet for any criminal to take advantage of. Just know I am not good at playing the victim role and should someone use my birth date for their ill gain, they will be prosecuted. Plain and simple.) So, if you add the 6/5 and the next 65 you get… YES! 11- 11!!! I enjoy this thought immensely. It’s “my” time. So, I had it tattooed on my lower back. It’s the only tattoo of it’s kind…I expressed my idea to the tattoo artist of how I wanted to use a Salvador Dali distorted pocket watch with a vine I draw when I am bored or thinking. The hands on the clock don’t really look like they say 11:11 but they are distorted also…in that the hand closest to you looks bigger than the hand furthest away. All in all it’s 11:11. “My time.”
You think the whole concept is asinine, don’t you? Disciplined, practical woman going so far as to tattoo her favorite time on her back…for me, it defines me and sets me apart…makes me easy to ID…(sorry, but it’s true), and “marks” me. But we’ll move on, if you are still with me…
All my youth and into my teenage years, I said, I would marry a George and have five children. This number thing is so intriguing…I did marry a George…and adding his three from a previous marriage, to my one from a previous marriage, and one the two of us created before we actually married…we had five children! What a sweet little group. We felt so blessed. God smiled down on us and give us a “special extra child” creating a sort of baker’s dozen…one extra in the mix just for the make certain it’s the right amount….Did you know that the baker’s dozen originated in the reign of Henry III where if the bakers shortchanged customers they were to be punished…severely…like hands cut off and such. So they threw in an extra just too make sure they didn’t short anyone. Numbers, numbers….they have numerous benefits!
One of our children has a 9/11 birthday. Which up until their 16th birthday, we never looked at it as 911. After that tragedy, it makes sense, and yet, encourages me that the same day can cause great heartache, and yet, it can also be a joyous day of celebration. 9/11 marks a good and an evil anniversary for me now.
Another of our children, was born on the 11th, met a wonderful man who was also born on the 11th and so they married on, yes, the 11th. Right now, their house number is 711…
Another of our children was born 11/12…keeping the numbers in sequence…
I am enthralled with all of this…Bear with me...The number issued to me on Friday for the physical test…was 142…Good guess, I am one who is 42...actually the only one that was 42…and furthermore, the oldest recruit? Let’s not discuss that part, it has no significance.
I could go on. But I will stop here and let you explore your own numbers…and I’ll continue to be thankful for mine.

7 comments:

Ariel said...

Of course you didn't plan on posting this at 11:11, did you? =P Numbers are quite significant in everyone's life. I love finding them. They always make me smile.

Jessica said...

I love how numbers turn out. My son was born on 10/5/05 and he weighed 10lb. 5oz. So cool! :) Thanks for participating. I hope your new granddaughter makes an appearance soon! The anticipation is so exciting!

aclaypot4him said...

Jessica! TOO cool!!! Thanks for sharing that...My daughter-in-law and I just walked a mile and a half...no changes...good time talking together though. Thanks for your comment!

Jan Ross said...

Ooooooh, a tattoo. I am so jealous. I really want one...but Liz said it hurts so much, it makes you cry. So I can't gear myself up for it. Maybe eventually.

Sarah said...

Don't forget little Missy is also an 11 birthday! 6/11. So did little Emily make it in on the 11th??

aclaypot4him said...

Yep, another 11th...didn't mean to leave Missy out at all!
Emmy B wasn't ready yesterday...Becky is though!

Fancy said...

Cool tattoo!!

My girls have always liked 11:11 as well. They would say "it's 11:11, make a wish". It's funny how many times I have noticed 11:11 on a clock and thought of them and now I will also think of you.

XOXO