Friday, September 18, 2009

lucky number


Gematria is a mystical system of numerology, one that assigns a numerical value to each letter of the Hebrew alphabet and finds meaning in the results.

The best known example is probably the Hebrew word chai (shown above), which means life or living and whose letters add up to 18. For that reason, 18 is considered a lucky number and, traditionally, gifts of money are given in amounts that are multiples of 18.

Which brings me to the point of this post, which is that not only is today September 18, but also it was exactly 18 years ago (on Yom Kippur, as it happens) that my son Gray was born.

30 comments:

Tash said...

Now there's some symbolic meaning. Happy Birthday Gray! Wish we could tap into your travelogue.

And enjoy your holiday, Niobe.

JW Moxie said...

Furthering the auspicious coincidences of today, it is also Grey's golden birthday. Has your family ever recognized those? It is the year that you turn the age of the day that you were born. We've always celebrated golden birthdays in my family by giving a gift of gold - a special piece of jewelery to mark the special occasion.

For my golden birthday (Feb. 11 - age 11), I received a gold birthstone ring. The amethyst was heart-shaped. Now, 20 years later the band is bent and broken, but I still have my golden birthday ring.

Happy birthday to your golden boy, and happy Birth Day to you.

Jana said...

L'Shana Tovah and Happy Birthday Gray.

jill said...

Also called his Golden Birthday!
Happy Birthday!!

Anonymous said...

Congratulations to Gray on his very special day!
allypally

excavator said...

Happy birthday, Gray.

You must be very proud of him, Niobe.

Aurelia said...

Happy New Year and Happy Birthday Gray!

What did he end up deciding to do with his year off? I know he travelled a little, but is he doing any more of that?

Azaera said...

Happy Champagne birthday Gray!

Caro said...

Happy birthday Gray

areyoukiddingme said...

Happy Birthday, Gray!

Aite said...

Happy New Year and a very Happy Birthday to Gray!

Leah said...

happy birthday to your son!

Magpie said...

I hope he has a lovely day.

I became aware of the significance of 18 when I started working in non-profit organizations - we get gifts in multiples of 18, which I find oddly charming. 18, 36, 180.

Alexicographer said...

Happy birthday, Gray!

thirtysomething said...

A very special day indeed...happy birthday to Gray!

Once A Mother said...

Happy Birthday Gray!

Sue said...

Wishing Gray a great day, and a wonderful year.

Happy new year, Niobe!

erica said...

A very happy birthday to Gray, and a happy, lucky day full of 18s to you.

Aunt Becky said...

Happy 18, Gray. Please, make your momma proud.

Trish said...

Happy Birthday to Gray!

Cara said...

An extra special day indeed. I love the idea of your golden birthday adding something even more to the celebration of your birth!!

Motel Manager said...

I know Gray is a pseudonym, but it's a family name in our family, and so I always feel an extra-special zing of happiness when I see it here. Happy birthday, Gray!

B said...

I'm impressed that a kid not yet 18 is backpacking around India or Sri Lanka (or wherever that rear view photo was taken) on his own.

It surely ranks among the worlds tough travel destinations.

Happy birthday to your son. May he live to many multiples of 18 (like 90 or 108)

moplans said...

Happy Birthday Gray!

Kristin said...

What a wonderful day. I love the idea of the Golden Birthday. HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRAY!

diana said...

Happy birthday to your boy! And happy anniversay to you, 18 years ago you became a mother!

Betty M said...

Happy Birthday Gray and a sweet new year to you too.

still life angie said...

Happy birthday, Gray! And happy new year all.

Bluebird said...

What a special day for you both :)

Amelie said...

Happy Birthday, Gray!