At last, we have finally embarked on the first of two Two’s Days in February (2/2/22). But the really big one is on Feb. 22 (2/22/22) which falls on a Tuesday (Two’s Day, ahem!)
If you know a child aged 11 (two 1’s makes a 2), these days might be a chance to talk about numbers and pairs and how the number 2 can change the Earth in an instant, dividing things in half, bringing things down to size, all that. Or…doubling things up in a jiff! What a wonderful thing is a 2! The number 2 is also a prime number, which opens a great set of mysteries that can be sorted out in Math Club, which needs more members.
On that day there will be global celebrations such as World Thinking Day (two heads are better than one—maybe?) and even National Margarita Day (make it a double?). Could we see double mask day? Or Conquer Covid Day (points for alliteration)? The twenty-second day of the second month of the year was already special: U.S. President George Washington’s birthday was Feb. 22, and he first saw armed conflict at age 22 in 1754 when he fought in the French and Indian War. He decided to serve only two terms as the first president instead of becoming a king.
That war started 268 years ago, the square root of which is about 16.3707, which signifies…nothing, but since we are worried about twos, it seemed semi-important (get it?). Also, half of 268 is 134 which sounds like an important number but is not really. More random facts: It was 134 years ago in February 1886 when the first male nudes were used in a coed art class at the Philadelphia Academy of Art and when President Grover Cleveland declared a state of emergency in Seattle because of anti-Chinese violence.
Getting back on topic: Is anybody out there turning 22 on Feb. 22? If so, email [email protected] with proof to receive your free Fierce Electronics toothbrush! A second toothbrush, too, of course, in keeping with the double-up theme! (Sadly, only one winner! But wait, what if there are twins who were born on Feb. 22 in 2000? That seems like a bigger prize could be in order, hmmm...)
Writer Lori Borgan tells how it seems as if every day for her family is Two’s Day: She leaves the house, locks the doors, gets in the car, then runs back inside for her glasses, locks up the house again, gets in the car again and then runs back inside a second time to make sure the gas burners on the stove are turned off. This strangely reminds us that Feb. 2 is Groundhog Day and: Did we back up that enormous data file offsite and out of the fire/earthquake/war zone? Is there ever enough double protection?
Let’s celebrate twos, numbers people! There will always be another silly pi day (3/14). But there will never, ever be another 2/22/22, much less on a Tuesday.