Some numbers just stick in your head forever, while others you can’t remember long enough to transfer to or from your phone. I still know my street address as a child -1001 and our phone number JA-33158. I oddly recall the patent number on the “lift for shower” button growing up as 18095672022875. Yes, I know my Social Security number, but I’ll keep that a secret. However, my date of birth is 1951, so I’ve forgotten many numbers through the years that I once knew, along with everything else. Of course, I remember Mickey Mantle #7, Yogi Berra #8, and Sherm Lollar #10. Other sports heroes included Reggie Miller #31, Payton Manning #18, and Walter Peyton #34. These are the numbers that mean the most to me personally, and uniforms I’ll likely never forget.
Being in the media business all these years, a number or frequency was our only identity. In TV, I worked for channels 8, 17, and 18. As a kid, AM radio was all I had and 890 WLS out of Chicago was my favorite music station. In my hometown for high school sports it was 1340 WTRC. I also worked there and for their new FM 100.7 WYEZ. In Ft. Wayne, it was WMEE 97.1 FM and WQHK “The Hawk” 1380 AM. When I finished my career in Portland, there were 7 properties that I sold: The Game 750 AM & 102.9 FM, KINK 101.9 FM, KXL 101.9 FM, KUPL “The Bull” 98.7 FM, WBFF 95.5 FM, and KUFO 970 AM.
I number each of my daily posts. Today was #1380. Naturally, I immediately thought of my years in Ft. Wayne and “The Hawk.” It was my first experience with country music and I still enjoy the sound. I also learned to two-step and square dance, but I’m better remembering numbers than step patterns. I had a cowboy hat and boots that proved even more useful when we moved to Austin, Texas. I ended up in the Texas newspaper business, as was my very first Indiana job before finding radio and TV.
I couldn’t tell you my licence plate number and never had a personalized plate. I also can barely remember my phone number and my wife’s, while anyone else’s is programmed by name. Address and zip code are still essential things for all of us to memorize. However, the number I just looked at certainly isn’t worth remembering. After all the beer, chicken wings, french fries, and pizza yesterday this number on the scale speaks for itself! Ouch!
I have known that shower patent number sine I was a child as well.. aren’t we the odd ducks!!!
Not considering how much time we spent in there as kids, with parents banging on the door wondering when we’d finally get done.
It was so wonderful to read this! I too, memorized that patent number as a child. I use sometimes as a password. People are always fascinated that I can remember it for 60+ years. Strange what sticks in our minds!