Remember when we were little how proud
we were about being another half? How old are you little Jeffie? I am four and a
half. Not 4 ... 4½.
Well, today is my half birthday. I am
29½.
Back in 1957 when I WAS 4½,
Sputnik 1,
the first man-made object to orbit the Earth, was launched by the U.S.S.R.
Paul Anka, Ricky Nelson, and Buddy Holly were hitting the music charts. In the
world of computers,
IBM created the first disk memory system and the first Fortran compiler was developed.
Dwight Eisenhower was President of
the United States.
The first color television had yet
to find its way into homes. The personal computer was still two decades away, and we
all had to walk six miles to school ... each way ... in a driving blizzard ... with
bears chasing us ... and no shoes.
My how things change. I'm so glad I
don't have to tell anyone about my ½ birthdays anymore.
When I saw the cute little pooch, I had
no idea our paths would cross again later.
While out walking last night I happened
upon a teenage boy and what I thought was his cocker spaniel. As they approached
from the other direction the dog came to sniff my shoes. The boy ambled by and said
as he passed, maybe it would follow me now.
Continuing down the street, I really
had no idea what he was talking about as the dog continued to follow him.
An hour later when I returned home, there was that same dog in my living room.
What a surprise. Why in my living room
of all places? She said she found it wandering the busy street, lost, and was worried it
would be hit by a car.
We called the Nitro police last night
to see if anyone reported a missing dog, to no avail. So, we had an additional house
guest overnight.
This morning we called the Humane Officer,
the local county animal shelter, local veterinarians and pet stores. Another call to
the town police came up empty. At the suggestion of a friend, I took a picture and
created a flyer to post on bulletin boards in the community.
The dog is beautiful ... well groomed,
well mannered, well trained, lovable and playful. She is very well cared for.
Somewhere today in our community is a family with a broken heart. They are worried
sick about their missing pet. I know I would be.
If we haven't located the owner by
tomorrow morning I will place a classified ad in the newspaper and post more flyers.
Hopefully sometime soon they will get one of our messages. There is a cute little
doggie that misses her master.
With all the recent concern about identity
theft, plus my heightened need for privacy, a friend convinced me that a shredder is a
useful tool. The price is sure right. I found one at the local superstore for less
than $15.
It does strip shredding, up to five
pages at a time, and fits on any waste basket. It has forward and reverse direction
and is quite quick and quiet.
The purpose originally was for
pre-approved credit card applications, ATM receipts, magazine covers, essentially
anything with account numbers, social security, or personal information on it.
My new toy works fine and dandy for that.
Surprisingly, it is also fun. I've been cleaning up old papers and files, junk mail,
anything I can find to run through the shredder. I am so easily amused and entertained.
Following are some comprehensive resources I found
relative to identity theft:
The early morning trip to the end of
the driveway gave me new hope.
Who would think something as mundane as
taking the trash out for collection could set the mood? I could feel it as soon as I
stepped outside.
For the first time in days, the morning
air is moderate rather than cold. Perhaps the one hour time change makes enough
difference. The birds are in full song. The grass is getting thicker each and every
day. Little wisps of chartreuse appearing in the forest. New buds on the end of
branches. A sneeze or two remind me I'm allergic to pollen.
Mother Nature is doing her job. Perhaps
this week it will be time for new job offers. I've done the necessary legwork in recent
weeks and months. Maybe this alteration of season will signal good fortune. At least
the trash is ready for collection.
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