07-07-07, 7PM

The number 7 has held a special significance from the time of the ancient Babylonians, who revered the seven sacred planets. For the Chinese, it is a lucky day to get married as the number signifies togetherness, while Japanese mythology has seven lucky gods personifying earthly happiness. Seven is a sacred proportion in Islam, and Buddha is said to have taken seven symbolic steps at birth. In the Bible, God rested on the seventh day. Roman Catholics have seven sacraments. Even gamblers see seven as a lucky number - just look at the slot machines where a trio of sevens equals the lucky jackpot.

And for Eli, who turned a year old on July 7, 2007, he began the momentous day at 7AM wetly gaping at chandeliers and statues of saints for a thanksgiving prayer at the nearest church. By 7PM, at his birthday party, he showered the significant night with a healthy dose of tears, and his special brand of tantrum fireworks, retiring upstairs to leave his guests gorging on a hefty repast:

His lucky banner and balloons

His lucky food and family

His luckless overstimulated self

His mom, the lucky rescuer

His lucky bottle

His spoils, the morning after.
A Fisher Price, the lucky boy.