Triskaidekaphobia.

I just realized that’s it’s Friday the 13th. Not that I’m overly superstitious at all, but because when this day comes up it’s talked about all over the world.

I had my first Friday the 13th experience when I was riding with my dad in his 1969 Corvette and we were in the middle of nowhere for some reason. We were driving normally and talking abut the day when the car suddenly and inexplicably died. We pulled off to the side of the road and had to sit and wait for help. This was in 1980, so remember there were no cell phones and we weren’t within walking distance of anything. That experience just slightly got my attention on this day.

The fear of the number 13 has been given a scientific name: “triskaidekaphobia”.

The fear of Friday the 13th is called paraskevidekatriaphobia, from the Greek words Paraskeví (Παρασκευή, meaning “Friday”), and dekatreís (δεκατρείς, meaning “thirteen”).

I’ve read that this day is actually more particularly safe to travel, because so many people are conscious and overly aware of their surroundings, actions and driving habits…that they take more time to get places, use their blinkers more, and in general make better decisions when faced with the possibility that the day may cause some kind of harm to them.

I’m not saying that nothing bad happens on Friday the 13th. I’m reasonable enough to understand that coincidental things can happen; but this is one of those urban legends that has stuck around for a long time quite possibly from the middle ages.

According to the Stress Management Center and Phobia Institute in Asheville, North Carolina, an estimated 17 to 21 million people in the United States are affected by a fear of this day, making it the most feared day and date in history. Some people are so paralyzed by fear that they avoid their normal routines in doing business, taking flights or even getting out of bed. “It’s been estimated that $800 or $900 million is lost in business” on this day! Holy smokes.

Well if you check the lobbies of our stores today, you would think that MORE people are heading out because we are very busy at Mission Repair. Thanks for venturing out and we are here for you.

Safe travels, but if you’re affected negatively by Friday the 13th, you’re only about 12 hours away from the 14th. Hang in there.

Take care, Ryan