As I emailed back to him, I do what I can.
Its all I can do to bring the rest of you down with me.

Ive mentioned before that my constant acknowledgment of the triple sixes is due to an uncontrollable obsessive compulsive disorder Ive had since I was very young.
When it started, it manifested itself in an impulse to do everything four times.
Turning lights on and off, touching drawers on my way out of a room.. You name it, and I did it.

Times four.

In the house I grew up in, there was a spot in the kitchen where my right foot would always have to land perfectly next to where the refrigerators corner was, then my left foot on the corner where the adjacent cabinet was, then my right foot exactly where the carpet and the linoleum met.
If it didnt happen perfectly, Id have to retrace my steps and begin all over again, and even if I got it right the second time, Id do it twice more just for good measure.

It came to a head when (perhaps ironically) I was in fourth grade and late one night I was getting in and out of bed, unfolding pieces of paper in my book bag and re-folding them, brushing against something, then brushing back twice and once forward, organizing my pencils and so on, until I finally looked at the clock and saw that it was 1:00 in the morning.

I didnt know why I did it, only that I had to or some terrible fate would befall me. When I finally mentioned this to my mom she just said that maybe I should go to bed earlier. I dont blame her for brushing me off. She was a teacher and spent her days up to her eyeballs with neurotic kids, and then discussing said neurosis with their even more neurotic parents.

I was a basket case, and Im surprised my folks didnt cut their losses and just send me to an orphanage.

Anyway, I eventually grew out of it, but Ill be damned if I can shake sightings of the number of the beast, and really, for that matter, I wouldnt really care to.

Theres that old saying- 'misery loves company', and if this is true, then my misery is planning a bloody epic bash to which you all are unquestionably invited.
Just dont expect me to supply the cans of cheeze whiz, and beer bong.

You know..unless we need four of them.