HAD ENOUGH of “seventh” heaven yet? Me, too.
In case you happened to miss every newspaper on the rack and most of the cable channels, Saturday was Wedding Central in this country. A record number of brides and grooms stampeded to the altar, ready and waiting to tie the knot — so long as they got to tie it on July 7, 2007.
Or, more succinctly, 07/07/07.
That by itself might have been a little cute. It’s not that different from the couples who hit Loveland, Colo. every Feb. 14 so they can have their wedding certificates from the “Sweetheart City.” Sure it’s silly, but what couple-to-be isn’t?
But of course, the pundits of the day had to endow it all with Significance. And so we got to hear all about how 777 symbolizes the Holy Trinity ... or good health and a clear conscience ... or a winning jackpot in Las Vegas. It was even pointed out that Boeing’s 777 has (reportedly) never had a crash.
Oh, my.
Isn’t this like trying to find cosmic significance in the Tickle Me Elmo craze?
It’s kind of weird when you think about it. Numbers have no weight, no texture, no substance whatsoever. And yet we find the most amazing ways to give these abstract symbols a concrete power.
My hometown of Longmont, Colo., for example, has no 13th Avenue. The street is called Mountain View.
Or take the Chinese airline that four years ago paid nearly $300,000 to get the telephone number 8888-8888. Even the Communist government in China seems to consider eight a lucky number — it’s scheduled its Olympics to start on Aug. 8, 2008.
For that matter, remember everyone who waited for that special moment when 1999 would become 2000? True, most of us were waiting to see if our computers were about to turn into rubble and our civilization with it. But there was still a fair contingent that was excited by the sheer rolling of the odometer and the significance of reaching a “new millennium.”
Never mind that the millennium actually began in 2001, of course. What’s logic compared to a big round number?
Then again, maybe logic’s overrated. Maybe I ought to consider getting on the bandwagon. After all, now that the all-sevens date is history for another 70 years, people are going to need some new numbers to latch onto. So why not have some fun? We could single out:
• 08/08/08 — Didn’t have time to book the wedding by July 7? Here’s your second chance!
• 10/09/08 — An ideal marriage date for space shuttle fanatics. Prepare for liftoff!
• 09/09/09 — For end-of-the-world cults who don’t realize they’re holding their signs upside down.
• 09/02/10 — The perfect time to celebrate Aaron Spelling melodramas. Beverly Hills, anyone?
• 01/11/10 — Why not have your wedding date be one you can read in a mirror?
• 11/12/12 — Sure it’s five years off, but what better time to honor sound technicians? “Testing, testing, one, one, one-two, one-two.”
Yes, I think those will do nicely. And if we do this enough times, maybe even the most trend-worthy analyst will realize that we’re just having fun and a number is just a number.
But don’t count on it.
Scott Rochat’s e-mail address is rochat@emporiagazette.com.
MelissaE (anonymous) says...
I love 09/02/10, it made me laugh. :) However, I daresay that anyone marrying for the first time on that date is probably way too young to know who Aaron Spelling is or what that number refers to, LOL.
M
July 11, 2007 at 3:53 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
daveedailey (anonymous) says...
I dare say I was married on Halloween. My other half got the treats I got the tricks. HAHA (LOL)
July 11, 2007 at 4 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )