DEAR TABBY

DEAR TABBY:  I understand the number 13 relating to the colonies in the State Seal.  I think it’s cool that there are 13 plumes of feathers on each of the eagle’s wings, 13 bars on the shield, 13 leaves on the olive branch, 13 olives, 13 arrows, and 13 steps on the pyramid.  Also, there are 13 letters in "E PLURIBUS UNUM" and 13 letters in "ANNUIT COEPTIS." What I don’t understand is why the number 13 is considered unlucky and was wondering what your opinion is about it being lucky or unlucky?  LUCKY LOU, LAS VEGAS, TEXAS (Not Nevada).

DEAR LUCKY:  Did you know it’s bad luck to ask me that question on July 5^th?  Just kidding!Triskaidekaphobia is the Greek word for the fear of number 13, paraskavedekatriaphobia is the fear of Friday the 13^th, and triskaidekaphillia means someone who believes number 13 to be a lucky number.  Friday the 13th can only occur in months starting with Sunday!

There are events that relate to the number 13 being lucky and unlucky.  Let me give you 13 examples – not really – Tabby is superstitious, too!

At the Savoy Hotel in London, if you book a table for a party of 13, the table will be set for 14 guests.  Kasper, a three-foot sculpture of a black cat, will be placed in the 14^th chair.  He has a napkin tied around his neck and is served all the courses of the meal.  Kasper has resided at the hotel since the 1920s, and Sir Winston Churchill was particularly fond of Kasper.  During World War 2 Kasper was “catnapped” by some mischievous Royal Air Force personnel and flown to Singapore, only to have Churchill himself demand its immediate return!

The Aztecs considered 13 to be a very sacred number.  It was the number of time and stood for completion.  An Aztec week lasted for 13 days.  The Aztec year was 260 days (it was divided into 20 13-day periods).

There are 13 loaves in a "baker’s dozen."  This dates back to medieval England, when punishment was severe for bakers who cheated their customers.  To be on the safe side, a free loaf was given with every dozen sold!  Another explanation for the number was that 13 bakery items fit neatly in a box.

Apollo13 was the third manned spacecraft intended to land on the moon.  It launched April 11, 1970 at 13:13 CST.

September 13, 1789, the United States government took out a loan for the very first time.

The Winchester House in San Jose, California is a huge mansion which once belonged to Sarah Winchester (1839-1922).  Sarah Winchester was the widow of William Winchester, the owner of the Winchester Repeating Arms Company.  She became obsessed with spirits, fearing the spirits of people who had been killed by the Winchester rifles.  The chandelier holds 13 candles, the glass window panes are made up of 13 colored stones, the drain covers in the sinks have 13 holes, there are 13 bathrooms, all the staircases except one have 13 steps, and so on.  Sarah Winchester’s will had 13 sections and she signed it 13 times.  Tabby wonders if that “cuckoo” clock rung 13 times???  The house is considered haunted and is a major tourist attraction.

The British rock band, Queen, released their 13^th studio album, Innuendo, in 1991.  This was the last album with lead vocalist Freddie Mercury; he died later that same year on November 24, 1991.  Mercury had a love song for his favorite cat, Delilah, on this album.  Queen fans know of Mercury’s love for felines (Tom, Jerry, Oscar, Tiffany, Delilah, Goliath, Miko, Romeo, and Lily).  He dedicated his solo album, “Mr. Bad Guy,” to his cat Jerry, as well as the rest of his cats at the time. 

This is where we'll end the post today.  I'm sure you feel lucky that we had Freddie for the time we did and that he left us his wonderful music.  Because Caesar is one of my best friends, I dedicate this to you, Mr. C!

We'll watch some other best friends in a sneak peak of The Looney Toones Show: Best Friends: