Cheer

I suppose today must in some way be auspicious, the date being 12/12/12. Not the sort of thing that happens very often; and certainly won't be happening again in my lifetime. I didn't notice anything special, I'm afraid; and wasn't even aware when it turned 12 minutes past 12; at which point you would have thought people would leap out of their seats, wave their arms frantically in the air, let rip a raucous halloo, and then calmly, but contentedly, sit back down and continue with their lunch. I just continued with my lunch. But that is a recurrent problem of mine: I never know how to celebrate in an appropriate manner. I am just too reserved for my own good. Had I noticed the clock, I might have come out with a sober cheer, keeping my voice down, of course, so as not to disturb the other occupants of the office. But the chance has gone now. For ever.

But if you are keen on these things, you can always find more subtle patterns to brighten up an otherwise lacklustre day: perhaps sequences such as 10/11/12 (which you missed last month) or palindromes such as 21/11/12 (ditto, unless you write your dates in the North American fashion, in which case it doesn't really work). The possibilities are almost endless.