730 days - that is how long it has been since we left our apartment in Egypt to today, here in DC/MD. 730 days feels like a long time, and also reduces so much living to a single data point. One thing that has been really cool to see in you is how numbers and counting have become a big part of how you keep track of everything. And the cool part is that I do the same thing. We have lists, we know how many runs it will be before we head home, and how many we have done. Monitoring.
730 day latergrams
In that vein we have been thinking and talking about numbers a lot lately. A few mornings, we have used this great website that has us putting in end and start dates and tells us how many days in-between. Something about having specifics grounds us both in the present and the things that have happen (life being born) and the stuff to come (like going to college in 4089 or so days).
594 days
Below is a compilation of things I have run the numbers for you and the ones we have done together. What I love is that there is real variance in the days, some feel like way too long and some way too short. And also that this list is really about you and the things that are important to you. I would have many of the same things but also a slightly different list.
Our numbers
- 2,500 days since you were born
- 15,900 days since mom was born
- 15,400 days since I was born
- 594 days since we got Rosy in Hershey, PA
- 730 days since we left Egypt
- 18 days since we last skied as a family
- 100 days since Christmas
- 24 days since Muriel got home from out West
- 74 days until your last day of 1st grade
Some questions you just asked me;
- How many days since rosy was born: 762 days
- How many days since we got married: 5502 days
- How many days until elle goes to college: 4089 days
- How many days since I graduated from college: 6504 days
- How many days since soccer/futbol was invented: 57,273 days
- How many days since America was born: 89,012 days (!)
Looking backwards
The questions that comes to my mind whenever we play the “how many days” game as an adult is - what have I been doing with these days? Have they been used to good effect and affect? Obviously can’t change how those days have been spent and used, but also mindful that these 15k+ days are a vivid and clear summary of my time on this earth. I won’t be here forever. Hoping for many more thousands of days, as well.
Looking forward
My favorite part of our data driven days ethos is forward looking. What will happen and when will it happen. Is 4k days until you go to college too many days, or too few? How do we feel about the 74 days until first grade is wrapped up and you move on to 2nd grade. Is 80 days enough summer vacation for kids your age? I think not, but also know you will get everything possible from those 80 days.
Your numbers/days
Something about the numbers is really interesting inter-generationally. Projecting forward from your 2,500 days, thereabouts, will in some future equal my days today. Using our beloved website, this will be in the middle of 2057.
I have never felt so old. No pressure honey.
love,
dad
