My dad’s habit of keeping notes that end with a string of ‘8’s influenced me to get them too. After he gave me a few pieces, I decided to complete the set. The digit 8 has many positive associations—in Chinese it sounds like 發, which is a good omen for my business; it is visual perfection, with complete vertical and horizontal symmetry, with no loose ends—which sort of ties in with the balance I like things in my life to be; it is shaped like the hourglass body of a woman—an instinctive projection of beauty and fertility; and rotated 90°, it is a symbol of infinity ∞—which is an auspicious omen that good fortune will be everlasting. So after getting my dad’s notes, I started to complete a set of notes that all end with 888. Friends have asked why not collect an 8888 or 88888 set? Honestly, the answer is that while I hope to be wealthy, I believe excessive wealth can cause problems. 888 reflects my wish to always balance my desire for wealth against other things in life.