Sixteen!

[image: the number sixteen]

Gleaned from Wikipedia:
Sixteen is the fourth power of two. For this reason, 16 was used in weighing light objects in several cultures. The British used to have 16 ounces in one pound, the Chinese used to have 16 liangs in one jin. In old days, weighing was done with a beam balance to make equal splits. It would be easier to split a heap of grains into sixteen equal parts through successive divisions than to split into ten parts. Chinese Taoists did finger computation on the trigrams and hexagrams by counting the finger tips and joints of the fingers with the tip of the thumb. Each hand can count up to 16 in such manner.

Sixteen is the minimum age for being allowed an official beginners driver's license with parental consent in many U.S. states and in Canada.
Sixteen is the minimum age for getting an adult job in most states and provinces across the globe.
Sixteen is the minimum age that one can drop out of school in most states of the US (however, restrictions apply and vary depending on state).
In the United States, female sixteen year olds earn the right to privacy laws surrounding OBGYN practices.
Sixteen is the age of consent for many jurisdictions around the world.
For its "coming of age" significance, this age has inspired the titles of many songs, such as "Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen", "You're Sixteen", "Sweet Sixteen", "U16 Girls" "Sweet Little Sixteen" and "Sixteen Candles
Sixteen is the minimum age to get married with parental consent in many countries.
Minimum age at which one can donate blood with parental consent in many states.
Minimum age at which one can obtain a 10 year passport in the United States and Australia.
Minimum age at which one can join the Armed Forces in the United Kingdom.

Today is Ricki's (Hebrew date) 16th birthday! Of course, she won’t be joining the armed forces in Britain, nor getting a driving permit. But she IS coming nearer to being an adult.
For weeks lately, she has been claiming to be “21” ,”22”, and once even “31”. (Amazing how we are NEVER satisfied with our age! The young want to be older, and the old, younger……..) Last night we finally prevailed on her that she is 16….

Last year I bought her cosmetics (foot/face cream) which she really doesn't use), not wanting to purchase a ball! This year I bought a grown-up gift that she is more likely to enjoy: Jewelry.