3 days ago
Harry Paidas: Counting the ways we live life by the numbers
The other night, while lying awake at 3 a.m., as I am prone to do, rather than counting sheep, I tried to comprehend how important numbers have become in our lives.
I will only scratch the surface in the following paragraphs, but it is fascinating how numbers rule our lives. It is also fascinating to think how life would be different had we stuck to the Roman numeral system rather than converting to the Arabic system in the 16th century.
We Boomers might remember that the educators of our time were insistent that we learn Roman numerals as well as other now nearly obsolete things like Latin, writing in cursive, diagraming sentences, using a slide rule and long division.
Today's students, products of the Age of Technology, have their share of requirements but because of technology, their tools have taken them to a new frontier.
The only common usage of Roman numerals has been relegated to designating which Super Bowl is being played. I think NFL brass thinks it is classier to use Roman numerals. Unfortunately, anyone younger than 65 needs to consult Google to figure it out.
Meanwhile, Arabic numerals dominate in all facets of our lives. (For the purpose of consistency, I will deviate from the journalistic practice of using the word for a number under 10 and use numerals throughout).
Let's look at my typical day. I look at the clock: 6:30 a.m. I immediately put my Apple Watch on to begin measuring what I hope will be 10,000 steps. I look at my July calendar with its 31 days and realize I have a 10 a.m. doctor's appointment. I go to the kitchen where I put 4 scoops in the coffee maker to make 5 cups of coffee. I pour 4 ounces of juice and stick 3 prunes in my cereal. Then I take my nine pills and supplements. I'll skip over the parts that include the numbers 1 and 2.
I get in the car and see the odometer is just over 50,000 miles. On my way to the doctor, I have to stay under 25 mph, then 35 mph, then up to 55 mph, then quickly back down to 25 mph. Kathe calls my phone number to remind me to stop at the grocery store to pick up 12 eggs.
When I get to the doctor, the front office staff wants to confirm my Social Security number, my Medicare number, and the account number for my supplemental insurance. When I get to the inner doctor's office, they want me to know I am still 5-foot-6 and now weigh 175 pounds and remind me that I should be about 15 pounds less.
Then it's time to check blood pressure, which ideally should be 120 over 75. Mine tends to be in the 130s over something in the 60s, which suggests I have both high and low blood pressure. Go figure. The week before, I had some bloodwork. Doc and I look at my numbers and if anything is out of range we discuss why and what to do about it. This day, she says, 'Your numbers look good.' Even though I don't feel so well, it's great my numbers are good.
So, I leave the doctor's office and go to the grocery store. I can't believe I am paying $5 for 12 eggs. And, holy cow, bananas are 64 cents a pound! I think to myself, it's a good thing they aren't taking my blood pressure now. Everywhere I look in the grocery store, I see prices and realize that inflation is real.
I return home and the mail has arrived. Electric bill, gas bill, water bill, cable bill and Visa bill have all arrived at the same time with various dollar amounts in Arabic numerals. They are also due by certain dates.
I go to the newsfeed on my phone and see a full slate of baseball games are to be played. The Guardians and Pirates are both under .500 and hardly anybody bats .300 anymore. The Pirates have a pitcher, Paul Skenes, whose ERA, incredibly, is under 2.00. There was a time when I knew nearly every Major Leaguer's batting average, but my RAM has been jammed by the aging process.
I could go on and on but I think you get the picture. And I hope you will take the time to pause and appreciate the works of our ancestors to bring us to this point.
I know that ever since that near all-nighter when I came to the realization that numbers dominate our lives, I have accepted and even embraced the importance of numbers. Even when I go to the doctor and I am not feeling well, I love to hear her say that my numbers are good.
In fact, in what I hope are many years from now, if you happen to be strolling through city cemetery and see my name, I have left instructions for the headstone to read: 'But his numbers were good …'
Harry Paidas is faculty emeritus at Mount Union and writes a periodic column for The Review. He can be reached at paidashp@
This article originally appeared on The Alliance Review: Harry Paidas: Counting the ways we live life by the numbers
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