Number 9.

In a different lifetime I used to have to drive a LOT for my job- going to meetings, checking on installation crews, picking up and delivering materials, etc.

Being on the road so much, I found myself unconsciously, or maybe subconsciously, “reducing” the numbers on the license plates of cars in front of me. By “reducing” I mean that I’d add up all the numbers on the plate and then add the subsequent digits together until I arrived at a single digit for that car’s plate.

Why’d I do this? I have no idea. But I did it anyway. And I know this all sounds like the ramblings of a mind running on stripped gears but hang with me just a little bit longer. OK?

Anyway. What I noticed early on was the significance of the number 9. Any combination of numbers adding up to a number divisible by 9 always “reduced” to a 9.

Fascinating, right?

*crickets chirping*

So fast forward to today. I’d stopped at a convenience store to pick up a bottle of water when I noticed it cost $.99 (9+9=18 which reduces to 9). While I was in line I saw that the MegaMillions jackpot was at 27 million (2+7, get it?) and the drawing was scheduled for today, Friday the 13th (which has nothing to do with the number 9, but has everything to do with my mom’s birthday which, since she was born on a Friday the 13th meant I was eventually born, makes Friday the 13th a very lucky day for me).

*doink doink* anybody still out there?

I never play the lottery. The odds are just too astronomically ridiculous to make it a justifiable waste of a dollar.

But I was getting excited.

So when it was my turn to pay, I put my bottled water and my credit card on the counter and asked for a MegaMillions ticket. The clerk looked at my credit card like it’d grown hair or maybe pus and told me I’d have to buy the ticket with cash. I checked my wallet and pants pockets and go figure? No cash. Which isn’t really that strange considering I very rarely carry any money with me. To easy to spend.

I took my water and left.

I was driving to the bank to meet Miss Carol ’cause we needed to get some papers notarized and I just couldn’t get the seeming significance of the numbers out of my head. I was feeling lucky. When we were done and were walking out to the parking lot, I asked Miss Carol if she had any cash and told her the whole story about the convenience store and the number 9 and how we could really use $27 million.

She gave me one of those pained, patient looks she’s been giving me a lot lately and found $11 in her purse and handed it over. She kissed me and told me to be careful and be sure to win the $27 million ’cause we’d need it for my treatments. And then she patted my arm and gave me one of those patient looks again.

That’s my Miss Carol. Always the kidder.

So anyway, I left, whistling my millionaires tune (which sounded a lot like Pink for some reason) and headed to my next job. While I drove I wondered where I should purchase my winning ticket. Not back at the convenience store. I figured it was a bad mojo sign that I hadn’t been able to buy a ticket there earlier. As I drove, I argued with myself. On the one hand I thought, it shouldn’t make any difference- pre-ordained fate will always find you. But, then again, I thought, what if maybe pre-ordained fate needs a little help from time to time?

*helloooo is anybody still awake?*

I was churning through these thoughts when I pulled into a gas station to get more diesel for the ever-thirsty MR.GREENE. It was a prepay place so I went in and gave my credit card to the attendant to hold hostage while I pumped. She thanked me and told me she’d turn on pump number 9. I paused and hesitated and then went out.

When I was walking out to MR.GREENE. I noticed, not for the first time, that my tag numbers add up to the number 9. Hmmmm. While I was pumping I was kinda daydreaming when I saw the speed limit signs on the road in front of me-45 mph (4+5?). Hmmmm. Just then the pump clicked off and as I put the nozzle back I glanced up at the sale amount- $68.58 (14+13=27=9 baby) HMMMMMM.

I knew I’d found my place.

So after I paid for MR.GREENE.‘s thirsty diesel habit, I smoothed out my lonely crumpled dollar bill and asked for a MegaMillion ticket, my voice cracking with nervousness and excitement. And guess what the last number on my winning ticket is- 18.

I’m so excited I can barely stand it.