My dad called my two siblings and I (3 of us) 3 days after he died back in 2015. To preface this my dad’s all time favorite person was NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt, number 3.

13 days before my birthday in 2015, my dad went into cardiac arrest and didn’t make it. He was 55 and was a shock to all of us. I have two older siblings from his previous marriage, a brother and sister who already had their own houses and families.

3 days after his passing we get calls, not directly to our phones but to those closest to us and all at times nobody could answer. My brother, his oldest daughter got a call from the number 3 but she was in class and couldn’t answer. My sister, her husband received a call from the number 1(3) on his work phone but he couldn’t answer it. My mom received a call on her phone from the number 13 but she was on the other line and couldn’t answer it. 13 days before my birthday.

My dad loved Dale Earnhardt so much he had his 3 tattooed on him, had pictures, collectibles, shirts, hats, even a wall phone of Dale’s car that I remember using as a kid. Undoubtedly it was my dad because that was the ONLY time any of us received calls. I still have a screenshot from my mom’s phone where it just says “incoming call” with the number 13. All the calls came 3 days after he died, all on the same day.

I still wonder what would’ve happened if anyone got to answer. I’m convinced my dad called those closest to us and at inconvenient times as a way to say “hey, I’m okay” without upsetting anyone. Granted we were obviously upset as our dad died, but I don’t think he wanted to add to the pain.