The Gift of Patronage

Birthdays have long been just-another-days on which to look at some pretty cards and eat a little (extra) cake. The gifts, when there are any, have become more practical — often things I was going to have to buy anyway — and at our level of income, money gifts are more likely than not to cover a shortfall.

So, if you're inclined to make my birthday not just another day, but just another good day, not a day of ecstasy, but a taste of the days that I wish every day could be, perhaps you'll consider picking up a book:

Or two:

If you'd rather, I'd also welcome outright donations (although I'll probably offer to send you a book anyway). Or, you can head over to Confidence Place and pick up something other than the books pictured above. I sign all books by me, with some sort of personal message. And my repeated sales pitch remains true:

Just imagine the dollar amount when your children or grandchildren bring the book(s) to Antique Roadshow toward the end of the century! No matter the amount, their reactions could hardly be more excited than mine whenever somebody thinks enough of my work to pay for it (even at my supremely reasonable prices).