My eyes opened to a bit of a panic this morning. It was brighter out than normal, and my alarm hadn’t gone off yet. After a short series of mental math problems that felt like calculus, I realized it was Saturday. My body stole nine extra morning minutes, waking up at 6:39 rather than 6:30. That nine minutes of light appeared distinguishable this morning.
Bill asked what time it was then closed his eyes. In the bathroom, I continued the math lesson and landing on the day of the month, February 1st, I tiptoed to our bedroom door and whisper yelled to Bill, “White Rabbit!” Finally, a win! It had been a couple of months. We’ve been doing this since we first met: Whoever says “white rabbit” first on the first day of the month wins.
For 31 years we’ve been doing this. And this morning, I put fingers to the keyboard to figure out why. For us, it’s always been a competition. It’s an exhilarating first win of the month if you get it!
We’ve pulled Liam into the fray. I had a bit of a losing streak in 2019. Bill must have won 80% of the time with me. He hears me getting out of bed and without opening his eyes, he can muster up morning math quick enough to get in the first “white rabbit.” Liam is an early riser like me, so I get him; we form an alliance; and I send him upstairs to get Bill. Having everyone win once feels good. Bill would disagree with that sentiment, no matter all the years his mum tried to coax him to not be so competitive.
The internet claims that it’s more of a superstition: saying “white rabbit” – or some version of that: “rabbit, rabbit, rabbit” or “rabbit, rabbit” – brings you good luck for the month. A Liverpool source claims that in World War II the Royal Air Force bombers said “white rabbits” every day when they woke up to protect themselves for the day. The same article says that in order for “white rabbit” to bring good luck, it must be spoken out loud and be the first thing said on the first of the month.
So it would appear to be more of phrase for luck that anyone can murmur out loud on the first of the month. That it’s not a competition but rather a superstition. Except in the Malcolm house.