bad luck and friday the 13th

When I was little, I used to tell everyone who would listen that Friday the 13th was actually my lucky day. You see, I reasoned, if everyone’s having bad luck, that leaves all that good luck just kinda lyin’ around for someone to grab it up. And I grab it up, so it’s my lucky day.

My Daniel Plainview-esque view of luck — “I drink your Shamrock Shake!” — has not always worked out for me, though. I mean, I’m no Knights Templar about it¹, but I wouldn’t say that I’ve ever had a charmed Friday the 13th.

Last month on Friday the 13th I found out that my unemployment insurance application, which had been done for nearly a month, was actually not done. I got it processed, finally, which could be seen as a stroke of luck, but it was more a correction of bad luck from the previous month than actual good fortune on my part.

Today, I’ve managed to find some ways to save a decent amount of money, but this wasn’t really luck, either. If a program exists and I use it, that’s not luck — that’s how it’s supposed to work.

Now, I am supposed to hear back from a number of outstanding contacts today, and that could be extremely good news. I’ll feel like I really hoovered up all that luck if, for example, I get a bite from an agent or a job today. Likewise, if I win the lottery with the single ticket I bought today, obviously my childhood claims will be proved true.

So far, though, I feel like most Friday the 13th are just another day. Avoid summer camps with a history of questionable deaths and don’t walk under any ladders.

1. by which I mean I have not yet had the king of France seize my assets and have me arrested to be later burned as a witch. ↩︎