Signs of Life: The Numbers Game

I am a fan of Taylor Swift, a talented songwriter, captivating entertainer, and savvy businesswoman. She also has a love of numerology and coded communications. Beyond her catchy lyrics and melodies, the hidden messages in the liner notes of her CDs played a role in Taylor capturing my attention. As music has evolved, so have her Easter eggs. From music videos to social media, Taylor often uses numbers to communicate with fans, giving hints of what's to come. Spirits use numerology to communicate as well.

When the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs began in mid-April, the Carolina Hurricanes, the team my dad and I loved to watch, played the first game and I was ready. I slipped into my favorite jersey, the black one with the hurricane flags on front and my name and favorite number on the back: Zhe 14. I donned my Canes jewelry, fastening the chain around my neck and looping an earring through each lobe. I brought my plush Stormy (the Canes mascot) to sit beside me on the couch. I'd bought Stormy a year ago, the last time my dad and I attended a game together.

My dad is never far from my mind. Especially during Canes games. Especially during the playoffs.

Before my dad passed away, we would have been deep into the texts by now, speculating on who would score the first goal and how many games we predicted for the series. Now my phone is quiet during games, but my dad is never far from my mind. Especially during Canes games. Especially during the playoffs.

The Canes went on to win Game One, shutting out the Ottawa Senators 2-0. Ah, playoff hockey season! It's exhilarating, especially when my team is winning. After the game, I drove to the store to pick up dinner, lamenting the fact that my dad wasn't there to share in the Game One win.

That's when I saw it.

The white sedan driving in front of me was not unique by any stretch, but the license plate caught my eye: 3HZC41. With the last name Zhe, I naturally pay attention any time I see the 26th letter of the alphabet. But the Z wasn't the only interesting part of this license plate. C is the first initial of my dad's name, Charles. Working backwards, I saw the Z, an H, and a 3, sometimes used to represent a mirrored E. CZHE, my dad's name. I wondered about the significance of the number 41. I continued with the backwards theory, which turned the 41 into a 14, the number on the back of my jersey.

My dad may not have been sitting beside me for Game One. He may not have been on the other end of my phone. But he was there. That license plate was all the sign I needed.