DEAR ABBY: I loved the letter from “Claire in Bethlehem, Pa.” (Sept. 4) and her idea of creating dinner parties or luncheons to celebrate days with unique numbers. I agree wholeheartedly with your response to her. I bet if there were a 13-13-13, Murphy’s Law would mandate that it fall on a Friday!

I am curious how many readers won’t get the joke and will write in, feeling the need to explain to you that there isn’t a 13th month. I am betting it’ll be in the hundreds; my husband is betting maybe just a dozen. Could you settle that bet for us? We have a dinner riding on it. — AMANDA IN ANMOORE, W.VA.

DEAR AMANDA: You win. I heard from readers by the hundreds, and about half of them volunteered that they thought I was “losing it.” (Thanks, folks!) I hope the dinner your husband buys you will be sumptuous, intimate, candlelit and enjoyable. Read on:

DEAR ABBY: If you want your advice to be taken seriously, check what you write before you publish. In today’s paper you said you hope 13-13-13 falls on a Friday. What planet are you from? I’m not sure I even want to read advice from a person who is this disconnected. So get out the calendar, check your facts and print a retraction! — BILL IN KEY WEST

DEAR ABBY: I’m not a stupid person, but I thought you’d get a kick out of knowing I actually tried to research what day of the week 13-13-13 would fall on. Then I just cracked up out loud. — SHARI IN PITTSBURG, CALIF.

DEAR ABBY: Were you serious? I am sure you were trying to be funny, and I’m not trying to insult you. It took me a couple of seconds to realize there is no 13th month, so it would be impossible to throw a dinner party on 13-13-13.

I hope you’ll write your column forever because it had an influence on me deciding to become a counselor. — DIANNA IN SPRINGFIELD, ORE.

DEAR ABBY: I looked it up, and 13-13-13 does NOT fall on Friday. It falls on a Noneday. — FLORA IN MILAN, MICH.

DEAR ABBY: Allow me to offer a suggestion to “Claire in Bethlehem, Pa.” For her Oct. 10, 2010, party she should pop some popcorn and rent a Bo Derek movie. — JOEL IN DOVER, N.H.

DEAR ABBY: I suggest you celebrate 13-13-13 on April Fool’s Day. — JOAN IN CHARLESTON, ILL.

DEAR READERS: It is my intent that this column not only inform, educate and occasionally inspire, but also entertain. The daily news is often depressing, and I would like to give you some relief from it — a place where you can learn from the predicaments of others and, once in a while, turn the page with a smile. — Love, ABBY

Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Write Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.

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