I once heard someone describe a hiccup as the body’s attempt to resynchronize by “popping its clutch.” If that’s the case our family needs an immune system version of the same feature.

It seems just as the weather rounded the last turn out of winter into the straightaway toward spring, our family decided to host one last infection extravaganza for all the latest nasty viruses. Given the sudden spray of mucus and chorus of coughing, coincidence just can’t seem to be enough. The bugs had to have been invited.

I started the party, sounding like the rhythm section in a march announcing Death himself. Things really got hot after that, and although I had to turn it in for two days rest, it was to my great discomfort I could hear (and feel) the dance party continuing with great celebration. I wasn’t lonely in my misery for long, however. My wife and youngest daughter soon joined the seasonal celebration with symptoms of their own. I’d go into the wonderful Technicolor details, but am still afraid of signaling a return to my now departing guests.

So there it is, my last week consumed by the smallest spec of life. I’m officially ready for Spring. The sunshine, the brilliant blue skies, the warm breeze. Of course, it’s supposed to rain tomorrow. The clouds are expected to bring cold Spring days for the rest of the week. Timing is everything you know, which is why I need to get my immune system resynchronized. Anyone know a good timing mechanic?

March 15th – the ides of which. Most people don’t realize every month in the ancient Roman calendar had an ides, the middle day of the month. In March, May, July and October it was the 15th. It was the 13th of the other months. One malicious historic event, and March gets a bad rap for all time.

This year is going to be different. I have a feeling 3’s and 6’s will be make this year one of the luckiest ever since that will be the number of my years. Here’s a few reasons why it is no coincidence:

March is the 3rd month. If we take the digits of the month to represent tens and the digits of the days to represent ones we get 36. (3 and 1+5).

3 is half of 6 (or 6 is double 3). Six three times are 18. 1+8=9 or three, three times. 9X3=27. 2+7=9. 27+9=36.

6 children in our family, 4 boys and 2 girls. 4+2=6 and 6*6=36.

As we previous saw 3×6=18. 18 twice is 36. When we turn 18 it signifies the passage from youth to adulthood. So I guess I’m now equal parts child and adult. I guess next year I’ll be more adult than child. Does that mean I’ll have to start acting like a grown-up?

The third month. It is a pushy, bossy, schizophrenic month. At first it seems February’s twin, but a few extra days are thrown in. March tosses blankets of snow on the ground one day only to put on summer shades the next. It howls with wild winds, reluctantly pulling us toward summer. We follow in bewilderment wondering when the warmer days will stay.

March is the month of green. Irish. The trees, the grass, the stickish shrubs beg to don their colors as well. Sometimes they are allowed. Sometimes they are not.

March can be Easter, sometimes. Mostly, it is not, but always looking forward, just as we do, to new life.