Because I travel so much, I wanted the lightest, tiniest computer I could get to take on my long journeys. So here it is in apple red, my favorite color. I didn’t know I was getting it, but note how well I match!

Cindy Bradford and her new Dell Mini

And speaking of my birthday, I want all of you who sent me greetings to know how much I appreciate being thought about. It was probably the very best ever in terms of emails, e-cards, traditional cards, and calls, although some of you were so tacky!! Did you have to remind me about all those things that come with age??? For the first time, I received notes from Japan, Australia, Germany, Canada, and Mexico, not to mention from so many of you nearby. Talk about a global birthday! It was truly special, and again I thank you. Sometimes, we forget how it takes so little time to make somebody’s day quite memorable.

But now it is back to reality and I knew it wasn’t going to be a good day when I turned on my computer and there was an email from The Scooter Store!!! You know the same company that advertises on television that it guarantees freedom and independence. Thanks, Scooter Store, but right now I have both.  They even said they would help me out with what Medicare won’t pay!! Medicare!!! Now, I realize that I just had a birthday, my hair is gray, and I don’t move as fast as I once did, but the Scooter Store?!! Give me a break.

One degree outside and the Scooter Store email, all in one morning. Maybe, I’ll go get back under the covers!

Now, I am certain that I was a complete and utter joy, and if my mother were here today, she would tell you so. But, admittedly, at 58, most people are finished with the long nights of worry, staying up until the teenager comes home late and have also begun the financial recovery from sending a kid to college. Not my parents. Nope, but they should have thought about that in the spring of 1951 when my dad was coming off coaching a winning football season and in the midst of a strong track meet standing. Too much celebrating always has its drawbacks. So here I am 58 years later.

I did some research to see what famous people share my birthday, but it appears Dec. 3, is a slow day for celebrity celebrations although there is a host of well-known Sagittarians like Mark Twain, Beethoven, Scott Joplin, Joe DiMaggio, Bette Midler, Frank Sinatra, Charles Schulz and Winston Churchill, to name a few.  And although I’m not very into astrology or zodiac signs, I do occasionally agree with the predictions and descriptions.

For example, I am easy-going, unless someone ticks me off!  I am direct in my comments, thrive on challenges, definitely fun-loving, driven, a risk taker, gregarious and extroverted. Did I mention the descriptions indicate Sagittarians have big egos?? Like other December people, I have difficulty showing affection, and am learning to be a hugger in my old age. My symbol is the centaur, shooting an arrow in the sky. Since one of my favorite sayings is, “hitch your wagon to a star,” that makes perfect sense.

So, tomorrow I celebrate life and the hopes for another great year. After all, 57 brought me my first published book. I have my fingers crossed that 58 will be even better.