11-11-11

I love number games like 11-11-11, and the joy of making a wish at 11:11 on 11-11-11. I often determine the number of an edition of prints or artist books by number significance. And as I chat with friends and acquaintances today, I find that I am not alone in this.

My dad has the same fascination with numbers as I do.  I’m sure that’s why it gives me joy to watch my odometer turn over, to randomly come across number patterns, and to see the Fibonacci sequence in action.

One of my favorite number stories is my dad’s birthday, 3-10-39. He was born at midnight between 3-9-39 and 3-10-39. His mother (not a number junkie) chose the even number, thinking that was more auspicious. My dad, looks back at this as a missed opportunity for 39-39. But now he has this number story, and we can all marvel and wonder at how one becomes a number junkie. Are you born that way? Does something happen to you during childhood that makes you fascinated with numbers? I’m not particular good with numbers when it comes to adding, subtracting or calculus. But I love spatial puzzles and number games/patterns.

I look at number patterns with great wonder. I never fail to delight over 11:11, or when I glance at the clock and it’s 10:29 (my birthday) or when I see the number seven in some pattern, image, etc. These number patterns give me the same delight that seeing a rainbow does.

This wonder brings surprise and desire to know more together. I want to reread Philip Fisher’s Wonder, the Rainbow and the Aesthetics of Rare Experiences again, to read his examples of how wonder draws together pleasure, thinking, and the aesthetic features of thought.