Today I was taking a walk around downtown Easley, window shopping. A repair man was fixing an awning and as I passed under his ladder, I noticed this really cool vintage mirror on display inside the store. I went in to check it out and was stoked it only cost $13.34. I paid with a twenty and pocketed my change.
As I went to put the mirror into my bag, it slipped out of my hands and cracked as it hit the floor.
The proud new owner of a broken mirror, I opened up my umbrella and then walked outside to head back to my vehicle, digging out my rabbit’s foot keychain from my purse and dropping in a penny that I had found on the sidewalk.
On the way home, this black cat darted right out in front of me and I had to swerve, barely missing a green car.
Phew. That was close.
Crossing my fingers for no further incidents, I headed to the house.
OK, I made all that up. But how many superstitions did you count? Five? Six? There are 10.
Walking under a ladder, getting $6.66 back in change, breaking a mirror, opening an umbrella indoors, rabbit’s foot, finding a penny, black cats crossing your path, a green car and crossing my fingers.
Wait, you say, that’s only nine! What’s today’s date? That’s right, it’s Friday the 13th. Ten.
I have never considered myself a superstitious person, but as it turns out, I follow many “lucky” or “unlucky” traditions, simply by custom.
For instance, I didn’t know that green cars were considered unlucky until I began to do a little research. Along the way, I discovered a few more …
For instance, did you know that you’re never supposed to cut up your pasta? As it turns out, long noodles are symbolic of a long life in the Chinese culture. To cut one is to “cut short” your own longevity. Now, I am not Chinese and I’m not sure how that superstition translates to spaghetti rather than lo mein, but if it does, I may be in trouble.
Others I was more familiar with such as hanging a horseshoe to “collect” good luck, knocking on wood and throwing salt over your left shoulder if you happen to spill some.
Some, I just think were made up like, raining on your wedding day is supposed to be good luck? I am convinced this one was created by wedding coordinators to soothe angry brides.
But in the meantime, never give a knife as a gift without getting a coin in return or it will sever the friendship and place an acorn on a windowsill to keep out lightning.
Some are just plain weird such as a sailor wearing an earring cannot drown and avoiding an albatross while sailing as they are said to be bringers of doom — although it should be noted that an albatross used to bring good luck until some idiot killed one.
For good measure, I would still take swimming lessons.
