Life is full of numbers. We can’t do much of anything that doesn’t include numbers, sometimes a little, and sometimes a lot. We need numbers, we use numbers, we depend on numbers. Numbers have a lot of significance to all of us.

Next Thursday, the number 73 will be of significance to me, as I’ll be celebrating my seventy-third trip around the sun. I know one of the first things people will ask me is what we ask many who are celebrating the anniversary of their birth, “How does it feel to be (whatever age)? It’s kind of like the response I often use to respond to people who tell me, “It’s good to see you,” which is, “It’s good to be seen.” In this case and as my life progresses, I have come to feel that my first comeback to that question that I will have after the stroke of midnight next Thursday will be, “I feel very grateful.”

I’ve been very fortunate to have lived this long. I have been blessed with wonderful family (mine and Sally’s), more friends than I can count, friends, great colleagues, wonderful co-workers, loyal fans of the same sports’ teams as I have, members of the same organizations, special church and faith friends, friends at the same places we frequent (some of those we’ve not met yet too), but our friends, and the great staffs at the Pub, Waddington’s Tavern, the Lakewood Rod and Gun Club, and other local taverns and restaurants. I am grateful for the opportunities that have presented themselves to me and that I have chosen to accept [husbanding, parenting (including grand and great-grand), teaching, coaching, umpiring, writing, volunteering, and being a member of the same clubs and/or organizations with the great people I’ve shared that membership.)]

There are many times in this life, when some things go awry for me, I ,like many of us, with eyes toward the heavens, utter the question, “Why me,” as I wonder why bad things, inconveniences, home or car breakdowns, etc. happen to me.

Lately, I’ve not only looked at the “bad” and asked, “Why me,” but I am finding myself, more and more asking the question, “Why me,” with all the good and wonderful people, opportunities, and not monetary, but other riches with which I have been blessed in my near three quarters of a century on this earth.

As anyone feels, I am sad at the passings of so many of our relatives, friends, also (neighbors and acquaintances, be they occasional or more often), and all those listed in the last paragraph, which makes me feel all that much more grateful for my longevity, but makes me feel very sad, and guilty too (that they passed and I am still here), that someone I loved so much, who was so special in my life was taken way too soon. I then turn those feelings around to appreciate and feel grateful that I had those people in my life.

I have had a lot of help from those who have seen to me health-wise and I thank all of those who had something to do with allowing me to still be fairly healthy, and able to move about and still be ambulatory, active, and fairly self-sufficient on doing thing around my home, or helping others, even if my hands, shoulder, back, neck, hips, and/or any other parts of by body let me know later that they didn’t like me doing all that which made me think that I was still in my younger years.

All this said, I am very grateful to be able to tell people that I feel grateful, and let them know, when they tell me it’s good to see me, that I will always be glad to be seen.

I thought, since 73 is my magic number for my upcoming latest journey around the sun, I’d do some research on the number 73 and see what I might find. I share this with everyone, especially my fellow gent and lady friends, who have, or will also hit 73 this year. So here goes…

Did you know that 73 is the 21st Prime Number, and did you know that it’s mirror, 37, is the 12th Prime Number, and 12 is the mirror number of 21?

Did you know that 73 is the Ham Radio Code for the phrase “Best regards,” or “Good Luck”?

Did you know that Psalm 73 in the Bible has to do with trusting God’s justice despite seeing the wicked prosper, leading to finding ultimate rest in God’s presence?

Did you know that Baby Alive, Bic Lighters, Boo Berry, and Breath Savers all came to be in 1973?

Did you know that the Number One Song of 1973 was, “Tie a Yellow Ribbon “Round the Ole Oak Tree,” by Tony Orlando and Dawn?

Did you know that former President of the U. S., Lyndon Baines Johnson passed away in ’73?

Did you know that Ricardo Rincon and Wayne Kirby, wore Number 73 during a time as a member of the Cleveland Indians?

Did you know that Pro Football Hall of Fame Offensive Tackle of the Cleveland Browns, Joe Thomas wore Number 73?

Did you know that Jim Parsons favorite number in the Big Bang Theory was 73. Parsons was born in 1973, 73’s digits include a 7 and a 3, and 7 X 33 =21, and 73 is the 21st Prime Number. Often times in episodes of the Big Bang Theory, Sheldon wore a shirt with the number 73 on the front.

Did you know that Buffalo Sabre and Montreal Canadian forward Michael Ryder wore Number 73?

And has already been stated, I’ll be turning 73 next Thursday, and for that I will be very grateful, until, Lord willing, I make it to April 23, 2027, when I can ask “Why me,” again, am I so lucky to have been given more time on this earth, and I can be more grateful to have become another year older again, and blessed with one more year of awe and wonder.