To my life’s blood, my children. Family is all that matters.

To my readers. I do it now for you . . . (certainly not for the money!
It wouldn’t pay my bus fare into town!! Sniff!)

Especially for those of you who have carried a lifetime of pain.

Walk with me through the days of my life. These are the early days.
It did get worse. There were many times when life was too terrifying
to live . . . and too terrifying to die.

But here I am, telling you all about it. Who would have thought
I would open my mouth and let go of all the secrets I had kept
hidden. Right into my middle years.

I want you to know you are not alone.
Take comfort, it does get better.

People are all the same under the fur coats and the Gucci sunglasses.
They have just managed to find an expensive way of hiding
the same kind of pain you and I carry!

This is my way of dealing with it. Sharing it with you.

To Bill, my long suffering publisher. (I have his heart broken!)
Ahh! Where would I be without you, Bill? You’re one in a million!

To Aidan Roddy (Blackrock). A gentleman and a scholar.
A busy man who will share his precious time with me. Just to stand
and stare. Share a joke, exchange a tale, letting the march of time
float on. That short time of laughter and ease makes the shackles
of duty in a busy life all the lighter. Thanks, Aidan.

To Viv, a very brilliant and lovely girl. A great gift to us all,
and a credit to your mammy.

To Caoimhe and David, two of the nicest people who ever walked
God’s earth. (In spite of my daftness!) You saved my life.
Was I not the lucky one, to have two rare special people like
you around when I nearly copped it! Truly, I won’t forget your
kindness. Especially for looking after the children. May all
your dreams for both of you come true. Thank you for caring.

To my two dear friends, with whom I am lucky to have met
through the book, Susan and her gorgeousdaughter, little princess
Shayléigh, for indeed she is one. Thank you, Shayléigh, for your
lovely present. It is very precious to me. It is also a constant
reminder of a wonderful little girl.