Sixty-four

Soon after re-reading the pianist Art Ferrante's 2009 obituary and realizing he lived as many years as there are keys on the piano (88), I read a book review on 'Endgame,' a biography of the chess champion and international scold Bobby Fischer, by Frank Brady.

The book reviewer, Janet Maslin, retrieves a passage from Mr. Brady's book: “'Like the number of squares on a chessboard — an irony that nevertheless cannot be pressed too far — he was 64,' Mr. Brady writes of Fischer’s death in 2008."

So, back-to-back, I encountered stories about people whose longevity coincided with a number associated from an object they became well-known from. Famous.

Coincidences, for sure. But they certainly add to the nuances of their life.

One coincidence I've never bought into is that of Charles Schulz, the creator of the 'Peanuts' comic strip. Schulz was terminally ill and passed away on the very day the last new 'Peanuts' cartoon strip appeared in a newspaper. His last day, coincided with his characters' last day.

Whatta way to go.

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