Warmest thanks to my beloved and steadfast agent, Anne Marie O’Farrell, whose belief in my work continues to get me out of the kitchen and back to the desk. It’s been a pleasure to work with my editor Alexandra Franzen who created this delightful Tiny Books imprint. I offer special gratitude to the sweet and savvy associate publisher Brenda Knight, who suggested this book to me. Her support of my work has been a treasured beacon lighting my path. Thanks also to publisher Chris McKenney, designer Jayoung Hong, and all the Mango team who helped distribute this tidy volume.

Particular and enduring gratitude to Bill Henderson and the Pushcart Prize editors who selected the essay that gave this collection its title and spirit, with special appreciation to editor Wayne Thomas who first published it in The Tusculum Review. Profound thanks to the other journals and anthologies who first published essays found in this book. Anyone who reads or runs a literary magazine helps keep writers alive. Thanks to the small but mighty organizations: the Butterfield Library in Cold Spring, NY, the Desmond Fish Library in Garrison, Calling All Poets in New Paltz, NY, and Poets and Writers in NYC, who continue to create space for writers to share their work.

Writing thrives on friendship. For years of wonderful conversations and support, thank you to Jean Marzollo (sorely missed) and to Patricia Adams. Dear Tracy Strong, here I am thanking you again for gabfests, cheerleading and heart-to-hearts. Gratitude to dear Mark Lacko, for design expertise, headshots, brimming bowls of garden produce and for mending my dictionary stand and other irreplaceables. Thomas Donahue, you and beloved Mark Rettman are an unending source of inspiration, kindness and laughter. Thanks, Bill and Ann Strohmeier, for your great senses of humor and perspective.

Thank you for the juicy talks, literary and otherwise, dear Ed McCann and Richard Kollath. Your creation Read650: Where Writers Read is a gift to writers and audiences alike.

I’ll always be grateful to Laura Shaine Cunningham, who, with her signature kindness and wisdom, helped me turn an important literary corner. Thanks to all my supportive sibs and their spouses and offsprings.

Heidi, Michael and Astrid Bender, you have changed our lives with our cherished Split Rock Books. Long may you reign in Cold Spring and beyond!

Robin O’Brien, how many different ways can I think up to thank you? A challenge I will gleefully undertake for the rest of our lives. For now, take these specific thanks for our hilarious, necessary Sunday phonecalls and for your spirit, support and equanimity. John, darling John, John Pielmeier, the daily bread of your love sustains me. You are one of my gladdest reasons to be human and our million-year marriage is a beautiful edifice of devotion I will always be proud of and grateful for.

And thank you, Mother Nature, for everything.