Will Two Super Bowl Brothers (and One Comedy Legend) Lend Me Their Lucky Numbers, Please?
My mom saw nothing magic about her “number” on her birthday.
A neighbor named Rose launched the question as a casual comment:
“Just how old are you anyway?”
My Mother chose not to put her hearing aid in. However, she has become surprisingly adept at reading lips.
“Thank you very much,” she replied.
Neighbor Myrna tried again, adopting a different strategy.
“Well, what does it say on your driver’s license?”
Mom offered a polite smile. “Thanks. Thanks a lot.”
Both women sat quietly puzzled.
Meanwhile, my mom shot me a telling expression. She flashed a prim smile with raised eyebrows and fluttering eyelashes.
I didn’t cross-examine her. But I think she was playing a numbers game.
I have thought about adopting her tactics as acquaintances calculate how close I am to retirement age.
As Elvis said after so many songs, “Thank you…Thank you very much.” If pressed, I will tell the truth. “No lie. I am bad at math.”
I’ve never won any lottery prize, so I can’t claim any special number.
May I Borrow the Funniest Number in History?
If I knew the odds were more in my favor, I’d want to go with Jack Benny’s number.
The comedian’s eternal age never strayed from age 39. This running joke became his comedy trademark. No matter how others tried to coax the truth out of him, he stuck with that same reply.
By the way, if my mother was under oath, I believe she’d confess that her real age is 87.
That’s been the number of Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce.
Travis told reporters that he chose the number to honor his older brother Jason.
Travis wears Jason’s birthyear (1987). Jason, however, is number 62 on the Philadelphia Eagles roster.
Both numbers were on display in Super Bowl LVII in February. The Chiefs beat the Eagles, 38–35.
Mother Donna Kelce was in attendance, prepared for any outcome for either son. Her one-of-a-kind jersey featured a front in Chiefs red with a number 87.
The back honored the Philadelphia team colors, including Jason’s number 62.
I toyed with the idea of getting my mom a Travis Kelce replica jersey since she’ll own her own number 87 this coming year.
I think Las Vegas bookies said the odds were a million to one against my mom boldly wearing her age in public.
Then again, after Travis starred as a Saturday Night Live host, his jersey might be in EVERY sporting goods department this year. Will she feel haunted by hoards of Chiefs fans wearing that coincidental “87”?
Why Did Jack Benny Stick With Number 39?
Here’s a numerical riddle solved. After a radio program celebrated Jack Benny’s 39th birthday, he claimed the same number one year later.
His explanation was: “There’s nothing funny about 40.” The gag went over so well, it became a running joke for Benny’s remaining career.
Coincidentally, Benny’s love of the number 39 can be reflected in the tastes of any true movie fan.
Hollywood spectaculars issued that year included The Wizard of Oz and Gone With the Wind.
On second thought, maybe I won’t be able to duplicate Jack Benny’s birthday “sleight of hand” arithmetic.
If I’m sworn in on the witness stand, I’ll have to look to Jason Kelce for a spare jersey.
Why? Because my driver’s license says I am 62 this year, also.
Thank you to Bruce Coulter for nominating me as part of Keeley Schroeder’s “March Madness Challenge.”
Here are three more lucky numerologists from the Bouncin’ and Behavin’ Blog neighborhood I’d like to invite to try the challenge:
Jenny Messerle, Joyce E. Cain, and Jo Muller
Good luck to all!
Tom Owens is a daily occurrence on Twitter at @domorebemoreNOW, where he rails against soul-sucking jobs. To help support his snarky sense of humor, consider subscribing to Medium via https://medium.com/@domorebemoreNOW/membership, so Tom will get a tiny reward.
