Blog 3139 – 06.04.2024

By the Numbers

I have always thought of myself as more of a word guy than a numbers guy. My wife and son are numbers persons. Linda spent over forty years in banking and Jay is a CPA (Certified Public Accountant.) I spent three and a half years in college training to be a teacher and a preacher. I never completed those studies and though I did spend several years doing unpaid work for churches teaching Sunday School classes and preaching I never made my living doing either.

Now after fifty-five plus years working at a multitude of different jobs I am retired and no longer have to work for a living. Words are still a very important part of my life as I share with those I love my thoughts on life.

My dad was a words guy too. How he loved telling stories to anyone who would listen. My daughter Emily Elaine was a words person also and would from a little girl love singing her songs to anyone who came along.

Numbers are important though. In my basic combat trading and MOS (Military Occupational Skill) training in the U.S. Army I learned to do many things “by the numbers.” Every tasks and every procedure was broken down into the steps needed to accomplish them without thinking and without error. If one followed the proscribed steps in order without leaving anything out, just like following a cooking recipe the end result was always the same or near enough to avoid the wrath of some sergeant or officer.

Are you living your life by the numbers or do you feel as if you are always trying to reinvent the wheel? Word people like my dad, my daughter, and I are always looking for ways to improve, polish, perfect our stories, lessons, and songs.

Numbers people are more concerned with trusting the tried and true “living by the numbers.” Words they say can be misinterpreted and mean different things to many people and in different situations the same word can mean even the opposite. They do not trust words, but have faith that math is a more reliable language.

Words people have more faith in words than numbers and often counter the truism “Figures don’t lie…”with the second part of that truism, “But all liars figure.”

Numbers it would seem are as easily manipulated as are words. Even the expression “By the numbers” is expressed in words. A simple song lyric comes to mind, “1, 2, 3 that’s how easy it’s gonna be. Falling in love with you it’s easy like taking candy from a baby.” I do not recommend latter it could be hazardous to your health. Speaking of babies as a word guy who still appreciates living by the numbers I am also reminded that everyone places a certain significance on “baby first word.” Words and numbers, it does not have to be “either or” but can be and usually is “both.”

Your friend and fellow traveler,

David White