#63
I first noticed it when I became a school bus driver in Pennsylvania in October of 1977. I was assigned to drive
bus #63. That by itself wouldn't have raised any notice, except that my P.O. box was #463, and my gym locker at the pool was #163. That's where it all started.
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n I moved to Western MA in 1982 and I went to get a new P.O. box, #463 had just become available a few days earlier. I am continually getting raffle tickets and other numbered stubs with a 63 in the number: in fact, I've got one that's #463463 and another that's #6363! I found someone's handicapped parking permit a few years back: sure enough, it had a 63 in it. A work order from the business next door drifts onto my lawn --- the only one ever --- had a big 63 in it. Someone gives me one of those tear off ticket thingies on a gift: #638553.
While I'm driving, and some car is either dogging my tail or driving slow in front of me, way more than half the time it's got a 63 in it's license plate number (especially near 
intersections, for some unknown reason). And if I'm driving along and just happen to glance at a license plate going by, nearly all the time it's a "63 car". Unconsciously, I'm just drawn to them.
One time, when I was having an extremely hard day, I got on the highway and the car in front of me was a 63 car, and I could see that the car on my right was also a 63 car. A moment later, the car on my left slowly (of course) passed me and it was a 63 car, too. And then, the car behind me slowly (again, of course) pulled around me, and it turned out to be a 63 car, as well! I was completely surrounded by 63's on the highway! It was somehow very soothing. And I've never forgotten it.
In 1998 when I attended an organizational meeting and joined River Valley Market (now River Valley Co-op), the then just-beginning-to-get-organized food co-op in Northampton MA, it came as absolutely no surprise to me that they gave me member #63!
When my lovely wife and I first got together, she lived in Beverly MA just off of Route 62. Since I was driving so often on a route number that was so close to "my" number and since my then bride-to-be is a scientist, I decided to do a scientific experiment. Theoretically, #62 and #63 ought to show up with about the same frequency, right? So I decided to keep a count of both of those numbers' appearances for two weeks, including all the times I drove to visit my lovely wife-to-be, just to purposely skew the results in favor of a number other than 63. Guess what? 63 won hands down. In fact it was more than 2 to 1, even with all the Rte 62 signs!
I wrote a song on my guitar about my #63 school bus in 1979. I first sang it publicly at our annual school bus drivers breakfast that year. They loved it so much they made me sing it again! It follows a standard blues progression and is called:
Big Yellow #63
I'm a school bus driver for Van Trans Bus Company.
The bus that I drive is #63.
63 and I, we get along fine
Every weekday morning from 7 to 9.
Then later from 2:40 'til five o'clock p.m.,
That's when you'll see us together again.
CHORUS
And it's me and Big Yellow #63.
Hey all you people, that's the bus for me.
63 and I, we get along fine
Every weekday morning from 7 to 9.
Then later from 2:40 'til five o'clock p.m.,
That's when you'll see us together again.
And it's me and Big Yellow,
It's me and Big Yellow,
It's me and Big Yellow # 63.
I drive around Abington picking up the kids.
Then I go on over up to Gwynned.
Next to the Open Door Academy.
Then the bus is empty and I'm home free.
CHORUS
And it's me and Big Yellow #63.
Hey all you people, that's the bus for me.
63 and I, we get along fine
Every weekday morning from 7 to 9.
Then later from 2:40 'til five o'clock p.m.,
That's when you'll see us together again.
And it's me and Big Yellow,
It's me and Big Yellow,
It's me and Big Yellow #63.
Now the kids on 63, I tell you, they're alright,
Although they smoke and throw snowballs and they won't sit tight.
When I tell them to shape up and get in line
They do what I say; they don't give me a hard time.
CHORUS
And it's me and Big Yellow #63.
Hey all you people, that's the bus for me.
63 and I, we get along fine
Every weekday morning from 7 to 9.
Then later at 2:40 'til five o'clock p.m.,
That's when you'll see us together again.
And it's me and Big Yellow,
It's me and Big Yellow,
It's me and Big Yellow #63.
[hot and oily, on-the-road, electric guitar or baritone sax solo for a verse and chorus]
Now 63's no hot rod race car, I know,
But some other bus drivers they sure go slow.
The other day behind one going up a hill
We were going so slow it felt like standing still!
CHORUS
And it's me and Big Yellow #63.
Hey all you people, that's the bus for me.
63 and I, we get along fine
Every weekday morning from 7 to 9.
Then later from 2:40 'til five o'clock p.m.,
That's when you'll see us together again.
And it's me and Big Yellow,
It's me and Big Yellow,
It's me and Big Yellow #63.
"Big Yellow #63" music and lyrics ©1979 TREVOR
My 63rd Year
The 63s just keep piling up!
March 22, 2019 - I turned 63 years old today. I had a huge 9-hour birthday party at my house. I tried to count how many people showed up, but I lost track at 54... I'd like to think 9 more showed up. ;D
March 27 - I did my 7, 063rd professional appearance.
April 7 - I totally chanced upon a hat (my favorite piece of clothing) that prominently features my favorite number: 63.
April 16 - My official Lifetime Customer Satisfaction Rate hit 99.96463% — ending not only with a 63, but with a 463, my P.O. box number.
May 1 - I did my 1,363rd school show.
June 3 (6/3) - The number of PG Tips plastic teabags that I pulled out of my compost while spreading it on my garden beds this Spring topped out at 263.
March 2 - I did my 3,063rd Recreation Facility and Event appearance.
March 21, 2020 - At the end of my very last day of being 63, I retired my 63 hat, having worn from the day I got it for the entire rest of my 63rd year.
YOU WILL BE 100% SATISFIED AND
YOUR GROUP WILL HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF FUN...
OR IT'S FREE!