20"13" Adds To The Controversy Of The Number 13

     There has always been controversy about the number 13.  There's something about 13 that simply puts certain people in to a tizzy.  So, as we begin the new year of 2013 today, I want to share with you - not only some fascinating facts - but a few of my own personal experiences with the number that many fear...but others love.

     Throughout my life, I have had mixed emotions about the number 13.  The reason will become apparent later in this essay.

     It's not totally clear when or why 13 became the number to hate.  Nobody's really sure why it's associated with bad luck.  However, it's a superstition that we cannot escape; and triskaidekaphobia - the fear of the number 13 - is going to drive some people wacky - or at the very least - make others rather uncomfortable - all year long.

     Of course there are the obvious avoidances of the number 13.  Some office buildings, hospitals and hotels don't have a 13th floor; and there are airports that skip 13 when numbering their gates.  That, however, didn't stop NASA from using 13 on one of their rockets.  How can we ever forget astronaut Jim Lovell's troublesome words from outer space, as he commanded Apollo 13 - "Houston, we've had a problem."

     To this day, there are reportedly superstitious people that think the number 13 caused Apollo 13 to be doomed from the get-go; and as we all know - Apollo 13 never reached the surface of the moon.  The lunar landing was aborted after an oxygen tank exploded, two days after the April 11th, 1970 launch, thus crippling the service module upon which the command module needed in order to operate.  Oddly enough, the date of that explosion was April 13th.

     Maybe though...just maybe...the number 13 was good luck for retired United States Navy Captain James Lovell and his Apollo 13 crew - Jack Swigert and Fred Haise, Jr. 

     Has anyone ever thought that "lucky 13" and not "unlucky 13" helped safely bring the astronauts home?  Frankly, I don't think the number 13 had anything to do with the moon mission being scrubbed while in space; and 13 didn't have any affect on the success of getting Lovell, Swigert and Haise back to Earth.  Led by flight director, Gene Krantz, it was the hundreds - if not thousands - of first-class, dedicated and passionate engineers, flight controllers and aerospace experts from NASA and elsewhere who were determined to make sure that Lovell, Swigert and Haise would return to our planet unharmed.  And if you're a believer - as I am - perhaps God had something to do with it too. 

     In the world of sports, there have been many athletes who have worn the number 13 on their team uniforms.  For example, basketball giant Wilt Chamberlain displayed 13 on his jersey, while football great Dan Marino, who is known for passing the third most yards in NFL history, also wore 13.  Today, perhaps the most famous sportsman to wear the number 13 is New York Yankees superstar, Alex Rodriguez.  With 647 home runs to date, I don't think the number 13 has done anything to hurt A-Rod's career, as he's one of the best baseball players of all time.

     Religion gets in to the act of appreciating the number 13.  In Judaism, 13 signifies the age at which a boy matures and becomes a Bar Mitzvah.  So therefore 13...is very special.

     As for me...my initials are GBD.  G is the 7th letter of the alphabet, B the 2nd and D the fourth.  When you add 7, 2 and 4 - the total is 13.

     I was born on 2-1-55.  When you add up 2 plus 1, plus 5, plus 5, the total again is 13.  Even the time I was born adds up to 13.  My birth was recorded at 12:37 P.M. - 1 plus 2, plus 3, plus 7 equals 13.  And to top it off...on February 1st, 2013...I will be 58 years old.  Add up that 5 and that 8...and what do you know...there again is that 13.

     Despite the personal connection with the number 13 - as I stated at the outset - I must admit there have been times when 13 has given me the willies.  No need to re-live and discuss them here.  I'm just hoping that 13 is my number...and that 2013...is my year.  I wish it to be for each of you too.

     If the number 13 freaks you out, you'd better surround yourself all year with horseshoes, rabbits' feet and four-leaf clovers, because beginning today, you'll be writing 13 on every check, typing it on every e-mail and including it on anything else that requires a date.

     Besides the fact, we're in the year 2013, there will be three Friday the 13ths on this year's calendar - first on January 13th...then on April 13th...and finally on July 13th.  And guess what?  Each of the Friday the 13ths in 2013 are exactly 13 weeks apart.

     Yes, this is the year of 13.  But let's give the number 13 the benefit of the doubt; and hopefully it will bring us all - good luck...not bad.

     But if the number 13 still bothers you that much...I don't know what more to tell you except...GOOD LUCK!  After all...you've got 364 more days to suffer.

     And that's The Controversy for today.

     I'm Gary B. Duglin.

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