The Numbers Game

I have been waiting to do this post for the past seventeen years, I know, I know that's way before blogging came about. I did think of doing it a couple of days ago but decided I did not wish to push my luck, so to speak. Let me tell you about it.

Eighteen years ago I suffered a TGA. (see blog dated 18th May.) Earlier this year I had another. After diagnosis, looking on the internet as you do, I read that you can suffer a second attack as long as eighteen years after the first. (How ironic the blog concerning the attack is dated the 18th May.) If I don't suffer another attack for the next eighteen years I shall be well pleased. Another eighteen years will do, I suppose, mustn't be greedy.

Now I'm not one for number patterns or coincidences but they take some avoiding. I left school at the age of seventeen. For the next few years I did a mixture of jobs, married, had two children and generally enjoyed life. Before I knew it, another seventeen years had passed.

At the age of thirty four I entered the noble profession of teaching. I enjoyed it, stayed in one school, and time passed by. At the age of fifty one, yes, another seventeen years, I decided to do other things. Early retirement was offered so I took it, a little apprehensively.

The years have passed and it dawned on me that the old seventeen syndrome would take me only to sixty eight. In the early days I took it non too seriously but as the years rolled by it became a less than funny feeling. Not helped by the health scares most of us suffer in our later years, and, without moaning, I have had my share of threatening situations.

What do you do in such circumstances. Confide in others. Of course not, that would only worry others and your fears are both irrational and illogical. How mortal and frail we all are when push comes to shove. So I've got on with life and tried not to look over my shoulder too often. Especially this week; especially last night. I confess, I was pleased to see midnight and you know why. You've guessed and guessed right. Today is my sixty ninth birthday and I'm a might bit relieved. By the way, I shall be eighty five in seventeen years time. In 2025 I believe!