It was like a scene from one of those old black and white movies where the pages fly off of a calendar to show the passage of time. Another birthday has come and gone. I know it does seem like I'm doubling up on them these days. I assure you I'm not! Dec.6 th, 2006 was another good birthday. I wasn't forgotten by friends or fans who made my special day memorable as always. People constantly ask me my age. Being a graduate of the Zsa Zsa Gabor School of Mathematics I have calculated my age as somewhere between 25 and death.

I have long said that there is no future in getting old, so I'm just not going to do it and have been fighting it every step of the way. Metamucil and Depends have never held much appeal for me. People weekly say "You look exactly like you did 15 years ago!" It's not as much a compliment as it is an accusation. "Had any work done?" or "Who's your surgeon?" nosey people ask. When I say I haven't had anything done they immediately start looking for the cosmetic surgery scars. (FYI...If your surgeon leaves you with visible scars, you went to the wrong guy!) For some reason I always feel the need to defend myself after being accused of having gone under the knife, which sets my unrhinoplastied nose out of joint. All the years of workouts, cardio and good/diet skin care hold little value to them. It just irks me. I work very hard to keep things together and know gravity is not our friend, but at least I am making an effort. You used to be able to sit a glass on my butt and have it stay there. A 23 year old girl at my gym recently said "Still looks good to me!" after I caught her looking at my derriere and I mentioned the years on my aging rump. And it ain't goin' down without a fight!

Anyone who has a December birthday will tell you we always get screwed. I remember as a child being handed a gift and someone saying "And this is for Christmas too!" Even at that tender age I thought " Screw this! You never give my brother a birthday gift and say that!" (My brother's birthday is in Feb.) I really feel for the people who are born on Christmas day. Sharing a birthday with Jesus is a tough act to follow.

Then, Christmas is immediately followed by New Year's. I was actually happy to see 2006 come to an end. It had been a tumultuous year for me, full of personal and professional upheavals. Betrayals seemed to run rampant. I still bare the scars from where the dagger was planted firmly and often between my shoulder blades by people I knew, liked, trusted and helped out for many years. Someone told me I shouldn't take it so "personally". It's ALWAYS so much easier that to say that to somebody when it doesn't happen to YOU! They said to look at it as someone trying to help themselves out at my expense as opposed to them actually screwing me over on purpose. Oh, that makes the bitter pill easier to swallow. I am still shaking my head it all. It's very sad but I can still sleep at night and look myself in the mirror in the morning. I can't say the same for them. You would think I would have learned by now to expect this sort of thing at my age, whatever age that is.

The new year started out with someone already going back on their word to me. Promises were made with "no strings attached". I learned long ago when that term is used expect strings...or maybe even rope. At least this time I was savvy enough to anticipate the outcome of the promise and rolled with it. The strings were pulled but this puppet wouldn't dance. At least I'm learning....

And with the new year comes resolutions and I have made a few. I did make up my mind to finally put all my old candid photos in albums. I have literally thousands of shots from countless conventions, book signings, photo shoots and high school reunions. As I was perusing some photos from one of my last high school reunions I literally had to gasp. There I was in a sea of paunchy former jocks with receeding hairlines and chins. I did give pause and thanks that I still have my health and my HAIR! Unfortunately, I couldn't the shots of my old high school pals, Abe and Mary Todd Lincoln. We double dated a few times. They were a couple of crazy kids.

This past year has taught me a few things and thickened my skin, which I take very good care of and is still wrinkle free. I might add. People who know me know the truth about what has transpired in the past year and those who don't I can't help what they think. Nor do I care. I know so many people who are anti-depressants and anti-anxiety medications for their own personal turmoils. There are times when I felt like I should be doing heroin to cope with all the undeserved grief heaped upon me this year, but feel lucky that I am still prescription free and happy with my life.

I am still consistantly working in the business with 2 more calendars coming out in 2008. I have several more covers on the way and am busy with photo shoots. In the upcoming months, I have agreed to emcee a show and coordinate a pageant soon. So, I will ride off into the sunset in preparation for my next birthday in 11 months I'm told 2 parties are already in the works and at least one of them is a surprise, so keep it under your hat, with my head held high and my gut sucked in. I have family, friends and fans who love and support me, which was my greatest gift of all this year. And I am happy knowing that with all the bitter pills I've had to swallow this past year and at my age (whatever that is!) none of them have been Viagra! In conclusion I say to life "Bring it! I can take whatever you got!" Guests will be instructed to ring the doorbell with their left hand, so they can carry the gift in the other. It would be very rude to come to a birthday party empty handed. Don't you think?
       

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