Today is Friday, September 13, 2024. Today was a day when araskavedekatriaphobia was in full force, which is the fear of Friday the 13th. This is a type of triskaidekaphobia which is the fear of the number 13. If you are eager to learn how this superstition actually originated, here are some facts relating to how this might have come about.

Some people believe that the superstition stems from the Biblical Last Supper, in which the unlucky 13th guest, Judas, betrayed Jesus. Another Biblical belief is that Cain killed his brother, Abel, on Friday the 13th. Another historical fact arising from this date in history is the more than 100 of the Knights Templar were believed to have been tortured and later killed by King Philip IV of France on Friday, October 13, 1307. A more recent historical occurrence relating to this date was the murder of beloved rapper Tupac Shakur on Friday, September 13, 1996. Doctor Donald Dorsey, a folklore historian, estimates that 17 to 21 million people suffer from triskaidekaphobia. Some numerologists believe the number 13 is considered unlucky because of its relation to the number 12. Numerologists consider 12 a “complete” number: 12 months in a year, 12 apostles, 12 tribes of Israel, 12 labors of Hercules, 12 gods of Olympus, and 12 hours on a clock.

Another interesting fact: according to the National Geographic, more than 80 percent of high-rise buildings avoid having a 13th floor. Hospitals skip the 13th floor and many hotels skip having a room No. 13. There is also the ever-popular Friday the 13th movie franchise with the first entry in the franchise premiering in 1980, in which the franchise’s 12 films have grossed more than $380 million at the box office worldwide, according to Box Office Mojo. Some symptoms of the phobia of the number 13 range from anxiety to all-out panic attacks. Many people will skip work on this date. So which one are you? Are you afraid of this date on the calendar or do you just brush it off? Personally, I went about my business as routinely as I could. I went out for breakfast at the Austin Street Diner and met most of my breakfast ladies around 10:45. We didn’t even mention that today’s date was Friday the 13th. Later, I went downtown (without Elliot) to the IFC, on 6th Avenue and 4th Street, with the intention of seeing a new documentary called Will & Harper starring actor/comedian Will Ferrell and his longterm friend “Andrew” Steele who now goes by the name of Harper. The trailer for this film reveals a heartwarming story of two friends of thirty years who come to a new understanding of what it means to be a friend, as Ferrell’s chum and writing partner on Saturday Night Live announces in an email that he is transitioning to a woman at the age of 61. Soon a cross-country trip is proposed for the two friends to bring them together as Steele transitions to his new female identity as Harper. I read that this film has received a 100 percent Rotten Tomatoes rating. But I didn’t see the film at 4:05. I heard the movie will be streaming very soon on Netflix, actually, on September 27 which is not too long from now. I’m sure I will see the film when it premieres on Netflix and I hope its message of love and acceptance is seen by a wide spectrum of the American public and might even change lives, which is what we so strongly need in this age of divisiveness and friction.

Instead, I walked around the Village and eventually ended up eating at Veselka on 10th Street and 2nd Avenue. As I walked on Second Avenue, I noticed a very long line of people waiting to enter the Orpheum Theatre. I looked to see what play they were all lining up to see: It was The Big Gay Jamboree, and I didn’t ask anyone on line if they knew what the play was about. I decided then to do some research at home to see if this is worthwhile to see.

After dinner, I walked to Union Square and 12th Street, where I browsed the Strand Bookstore. I felt very good that I fought the urge to buy another book.

This weekend Elliot and I will be driving to “Zander” and “Nalah'”s house in Princeton, New Jersey. Zander is the son of my best friend, “Harold,” who I’ve known since my childhood. Zander and Nalah have a daughter, Norah, who is about 17 months old. So it will be nice to see how Norah has developed over the months. Thus I will not be writing my blog until Sunday evening.

So have a great weekend. The weather is supposed to be exceptional: temperatures in the low 80s both days.

Stay safe and be well.

This rechristened street sign honors the memory of Edie Windsor and her spouse Thea Spyer who were a lesbian couple living in New York for many, many years. Windsor catapulted to fame when her name was on a Supreme Court ruling that helped led towards the eventual legalization of gay marriage for thousands of LGBTQ+ people on June 26, 2013. The Supreme Court case bearing her name was United States v. Windsor. As a result, Edie gained national hero status. I thought this was quite cool to rename Washington Square North “Edie Windsor and Thea Spyer Way.” If you’re interested in Edie and Thea’s intriguing personal story, go see 2009’s Edie & Thea: A Very Long Engagement.