Numbers often hard to forget

By Mike Leidemann
Advertiser Columnist

One nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Two cars in every garage.

Three branches of government and a system of checks and balances.

The Fourth of July and the Four Tops.

The buffalo nickel and five-and-dime stores.

Half a dozen of one and six of the other.

7-Elevens on every street corner and 7-11 combos in Las Vegas.

Working eight days a week and playing eight to the bar.

Nine Supreme Court justices and the stitch in time that saves nine.

The Ten Commandments, the first 10 Amendments and David Letterman's Top 10 lists.

Twelve men, tried and true, "The Dirty Dozen" and 1,200 cc-Harley Davidson's.

Thirteen stripes and 50 stars.

In 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue.

April 15, the day taxes are due.

Sweet 16 birthday parties.

1776, The Declaration of Independence.

Eighteen: old enough to fight but not to drink legally, and 1863, The Emancipation Proclamation.

The 19th Amendment to the Constitution, giving women the right to vote and 1927, Lindbergh's solo flight across the Atlantic.

Twenty-dollar bills fresh from an ATM and the roaring '20s.

Twenty-one gun salutes.

24/7/365.

The stock market crash of 1929.

Thirty-one flavors at Baskin-Robbins.

Billboard's Top 40 hits, and the 40 days of Lent.

Dec. 7, 1941. 42nd Street & Broadway.

.45-caliber handguns and 12-gauge shotguns.

Fifty-cent cigars, and $1,000 suits.

The 1950s, America's time of innocence, and Sen. Joe McCarthy, too.

'55 Thunderbirds, 55-mph speed limits and the Indianapolis 500.

Joe Dimaggio's 56-game hitting streak.

Fifty-seven channels and still nothing to watch.

Aug. 21, 1959, Admission Day.

Babe Ruth's 60 home runs, Roger Maris' 61*, and Mark McGwire's 70.

Nov. 22, 1963.

The swinging '60s.

Will you still love me when I'm 64?

Route 66, Interstate 80 and the H-1 Freeway.

The 1969 Oldsmobile Cutlass 442.

Seventy-six trombones led the big parade.

"1984."

Fourscore and seven years ago.

Buick Electra '88s.

90 degrees in the shade.

"Party Like It's 1999."

The 100th Battalion and the American Century.

Sept. 11, 2001.

Mike Leidemann's columns appear Thursdays and Saturdays in The Advertiser. He can be reached at mleidemann@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-5460.