Today is my friend, Sharon’s, birthday.  Our husbands are best friends so it’s only natural that Sharon and I would become good friends, too.  When I decided I wanted to write, Sharon was the first one to encourage me.  My first rejection hit me hard.  (I swear it got rejected so fast it hit me in the back of the head on the way home from the post office!)  Sharon had flowers delivered to the house so I wouldn’t get discouraged and would keep submitting.  Later, after I sold my first book, it was Sharon who insisted I was going to be far more successful than I dared dream.  She was right.  Happy birthday, Sharon . . . and thank you.