Damn you! Now I have to go and wash my eyeballs!!! (And hope nothing comes out of the mirror at me while I’m there!)
TroubleAgain, I do the same thing with Mr. DW Diamonds, our cats and our dogs!
Every morning when my hubby leaves for work, I always say something like: “I love you, dearest. Have a great day. Drive safely and I’ll see you at home tonight”.
And then, when I leave for work, I tell each and every kitty and doggy that I “love ya, and I’ll see ya when I get home!”.
Superstitious? Yeah. But ya know, I really enjoy telling everyone how much I love 'em in the morning, too. 
I pick up all money that I find, even pennies. I figure otherwise the universe will think I have too much money and stop given me some.
I also always buy lottery tickets in threes, 'cause 3 is my lucky number. Of course, I have never one anything from the lottery.
I have a lot of completely ridiculous superstitions. It seems that while we all like to think of ourselves as rational and “above” such beliefs, we all secretly hold them anyway. I’m sure this means something deeply profound about the human psyche, but damned if I know what.
Here are just a few of mine:
The “I could die soon in some unforseen way” thought. This one comes on when hearing or reading about someone else’s unforseen death. Because obviously, who ever thinks when getting into the car, “I could be killed in an accident today.” And who, thinking that, is ever right about it?
A corollary to this is the “a loved one or pet could die soon” thought, which means I must consciously enjoy a small moment of time with them, in case they do die, and later I can think back to that moment.
No photographs of living persons or animals may be displayed in the house. Upon the death of a loved one or pet, their photograph is framed and hung on the wall, but not before: that would be tempting fate.
If I leave the house and then have to go back in for something, I have to cross myself. And I’m an atheist. I also have to do this whenever I see an ambulance.
Shoes, when removed, must always have their toes pointed away from the bed. My Irish grandmother used to terrify me with the thought I might be taken away by the fairies as a child, and pointing the toes of shoes away from the bed would confuse them.
I’m sure I have more, but my mind is a blank right now.
If I am staying at my parents and I only do this at my parents not at mine - if I come in late or have to lock up the house I have to check the back door is locked three times before I believe Ihave actually done it.
I always save my husband’s last phone message. I’ve done this ever since I heard David Wojahn (sp?) read a poem about his wife (who was killed in a car crash). In it he described this mundane little answering machine tape, and then hit you in the gut with the line, “Your voice is on that tape.”
I’m also afraid of churches, because I think that somehow my soul was compromised when I was sexually assaulted. I know it doesn’t make rational sense, but I haven’t ever been able to shake it.
I think on the whole, I’d rather be afraid of ladders and black cats.
~karol
{{bodypoet}} I think that if you find the right church, they might be able to “uncompromise your soul” Truly, I cannot believe that God holds you in any way at fault for what happened to you.
I have a couple of unusual superstitions. I believe that whenever I feel deja vú that something has happened that is going to change my life. I also believe that if I get a fortune that I like in a fortune cookie that I need to keep it so the fortune will come true.
Oops, one more. When my favorite sites aren’t responding, I take that as I sign I should get back to work. So if the SDMB is sluggish, just blame me.
OMG. I thought I was the only one who did this (only with baseball though).
I also say things like - “ok - if my mom really loves me - this guy will get a hit”. Its really sick I know. I honestly have no doubts about my mother or any other family members love for me - but everyone I care about gets included in this little game.
This isn’t so much superstition as it is “illusions of control” but in 1995 the Atlanta Braves would either win or lose every game depending on whether or not I wore my contacts… No really - its true. After that year that was no longer the deciding factor.
I also do the opposite of opalcat in regards to visualizing something bad happening. If I picture it all of the bad possiblities all the way through and see myself dealing with it - then it is far less likely to happen. Before I travel any long distance - I must think of getting in an accident, getting a speeding ticket and having car problems… that lessens the chance of those things happening.
I check behind the shower curtain 4 or 5 times before I use the potty. Even if i’m home alone. Even if I’m in a hotel room alone. Even if I just checked!
**Superstitions **
I lift my feet up whenever I go over a rail road track. It’s bad luck, don’tchaknow.
I use to hold my breath whenever I would go by a cemetary, but as a kid, walking by one it was just too hard and I’d have to cheat and suck in a little air and suffered no ill effect. Now I wave and say ‘hi’. I figure they are like us, only dead.
I cross myself whenever an ambulance passes. (Blame the nuns on that one.)
Whenver I blow out a candle, I make a wish.
Compulsions
I know if there is a light on in the house. This instinct always hits me just as I get settled in bed and it is always the light that is the furthest from me. Yet, this stellar instinct fails to assist me when I’ve left the lights on in my van and I get to go out in the morning to a dead battery.
If you run the water while brushing your teeth, I will ( and I don’t care if you are the Pope, President or Mel Gibson) shut the water off until you are in the spit and rinse cycle. You’re wasting water, people.
I twirl my hair when bored.