A number is a mathematical object used to count, measure and label. A number can provide context, meaning, and understanding. Numbers can provide useful information beyond just quantity. They can provide a measure of quality, like just how cold was it around here last weekend. They can also tell us how much snow came down, making the area pretty. Let’s take a look at a few other numbers.

I just finished my eighth decade on earth, and BJ takes pride in the fact that she is now a year younger than I am, by seven months. My younger sister’s birthday was last weekend and BJ enjoys being the same age as she. Since we are on the subject of birthdays, I would like you to take note of the fact that until last week my age was a prime number. That should happen again in a couple of years. Or, at this stage, maybe not!

BJ and I, maybe like you, measure our family with numbers. Two children, four grandsons aged 11 through 21, and a passel of relatives the number of whom varies based on who you want to include that day.

In a conversation with an old friend last week, he inquired about the number of columns I have written for The Leader over the years. He was surprised when I told him, and he told me it was the same number as the number of home runs hit by Babe Ruth. How about that for a meaningless connection? Makes you wonder if I can make it to Henry Aaron’s record. Go ahead, look up those numbers, if you haven’t already.

Do you celebrate “Pi Day” with pie treats at work or home? I have had a lot of fun with it over the years by serving and eating pie on March 14 (3.14).

How about the prices of things in our daily lives? A dozen eggs is at least double what it was two years ago and we complain vociferously. The value of our home doubles and we cackle to our friends about our obvious financial acumen. Consistency is the hobgoblin, etc.

In 2010, I worked for the Census canvassing homes that had not yet answered the mailed survey. Now there are some numbers, most of which were not the happiest to see “somebody from the government.” There are numbers on your driver’s license, your home number, your street name and number, etc. Your car may have a number; 911, 914, 924, 944, 928, 958, 325, 959, GT3, Corvette, (oh wait a minute, that doesn’t work). And, don’t lie to me, you have some gambling habit, whether it is a friendly poker game, the Powerball “scam," or regular visits to the casino, all of which involve numbers. Hopefully the numbers involved in those activities don’t equal negative signs in front of the dollars. However, we know those casinos make good dough.

Success in sports is always measured with numbers. The University of Washington football has a record of 25 wins versus two losses over the past two seasons. In case you didn’t know, that ship has sailed to Tuscaloosa. The Kansas City Chiefs beat the Miami Dolphins last Saturday by a score of 26-7 in weather that was colder than a well-digger’s derriere. Now there is a meaningful description of the weather without a number! How heavy was the ice on Andy Reid’s “stache”?

Over the years, many of us have been fans of Microsoft Excel and its ability to help bring understanding and context to numbers. Not to be outdone, Apple has an application named, you guessed it, “Numbers.”

Understanding and using numbers today requires some second-grade arithmetic, but probably not much more. A Powerball lottery ticket requires you to be able to count out $2, period. Well, in addition, you need to be able to subtract $2 from the money your heirs will inherit.

Love a curmudgeon and have a great week. I am counting on you!

ned@ptleader.com.