Like a lot of sports-oriented people, I have a numbers thing. I think about numerals a lot.

If I were to play a sport, I have preferred numbers. A different set for baseball, football, basketball. I will always have an opinion on a phone number, if I am given a choice. “This” number will be better than “that” number, and I will have an explanation as to why.

This extends to birthdays, too.
So, to make this a quick ‘n’ easy entry, and a list, as well, my 10 preferred birthday dates (using the U.S. system of months before days):

10. 12/31. This isn’t really about numbers, this December 31 thing; it’s more the idea of your birthday being one huge global party. “Yeah, everyone is excited … about me!” (Conversely, a birthday on Christmas Eve would be awful.)

9.  12/3 or 1/23. December 3 or January 23. Easy as 1-2-3. And you get two shots at it.

8.  7/4 (U.S. only.) July 4? “Yes, the country and I have the same birthday.” And the “I’m a Yankee Doodle Dandy, born on the Fourth of July” thing. “Yes, they shoot off fireworks on my birthday.”

7.  3/15. March 15. The Ides of March. Kinda cool. The only modern date with a Roman name. Julius Caesar’s assassination, etc. “Beware the Ides of …”

6.  10/31. Halloween. Yes, everyone dresses up in costumes on my birthday and collects candy.

5. 1/1. Reinforces your importance, no? Those two ones in January 1? “Leading off the year, my birthday!” The only down side would be turning a year older right out of the box every year.

4.  2/2. I like the double twos, and it’s also Groundhog Day, a fun if not actually important quasi-holiday.

3. 2/8 or 3/27. The month is a cube root of the day. Gotta like that.

2.  12/12. An interesting combination, but for anyone born on this date next December, their birthday will be 12/12/12.  Comes up only once a century. Same as 11/11/11, which some lucky kids will get in a few weeks.

1. 7/11. C’mon, that’s not a lucky number? July 11 … 7/11? And handy, too. “When is your birthday?” “Lucky 7/11, baby.”