This, That, and the Other

The population of the United States now exceeds 321 million. There are 12 signs of the zodiac. Assuming a fairly equal distribution of citizens across those 12 signs, approximately 27 million people share the same sign as you do.

As a logical, rational, thinking person, I don’t believe that the other 27 million people whose sign, like mine, is Taurus, are just like me. We don’t all share the same characteristics or natures, nor are we similarly influenced — if influenced at all — by the position of heavenly bodies.

That’s why, when people ask me, “What’s your sign?” I almost always say “A stop sign.”

My wife, however, is not nearly as pragmatic as am I. She reads her daily horoscope, which is published, appropriately, in the comics section of our local paper. And before you ask, yes, we do still get home delivery of our local newspaper every morning. Me mostly for the sports section and my wife mostly for the crossword puzzles.

Anyway, she’ll read her horoscope and say something like, “That is so me.” And I’ll say something like, “Yes, that is so you…and the 27 million or so other Americans who share your same astrological sign.” At which point she gets angry and refuses to speak to me for the rest of the day.

I have no patience with horoscopes or the people who really take them seriously. If you happen to be someone who ascribes some magical, mystical powers to astrological signs, I’m sorry if I’ve offended you.

Perhaps you should check your horoscope for today. It just might advise you to be on the lookout for an encounter with a stranger who will cause you to question your sanity.

Today’s Stream of Consciousness post from Linda G. Hill is about the word “sign.”