I am forever grateful to Heather Karpas at ICM Partners, who gave The Honey Bus its first green light. Her extraordinary talent, warmth and unwavering belief in this story kept me going, even when the road seemed long and twisting.
Editorial Director Erika Imranyi and the entire team at Park Row Books have done so much for me, and this book. It’s been a dream collaboration; an adventure that never felt like work. Thank you, Erika, for your insightful touch—it’s the secret ingredient on every page.
More applause for Helen Manders at Curtis Brown Group UK; and Maria Campbell and her whole team at Maria B. Campbell Associates, early champions whose endorsement ensured that the book would be translated around the globe. They have given Grandpa nothing less than immortality.
Group hug to my mentors David Lewis, reader of my first draft, and Ken Conner, shepherd through the last. Both gentlemen were my editors at the San Francisco Chronicle, and I’m humbled and honored that they continue to guide me through words, and through life. Thank you also to friends who read parts of this memoir along the way and gave invaluable feedback: Earl Swift, Shobha Rao, Sarah Pollock, Meredith White, Julian Guthrie, Lysley Tenorio, Joshua Mohr, Tom Molanphy, Mag Donaldson, Tee Minot, Lesley Guth, Maria Willett, Maria Finn, and Maile Smith.
I am indebted to my creative nonfiction professors at Goucher College where this book began as my MFA thesis: authors Tom French, Diana Hume George, Leslie Rubinkowski, Laura Wexler, and Patsy Sims. A big bow of gratitude to the American Association of University Women, which supplied a generous grant so I could attend Goucher’s graduate school program. This memoir was also supported by the Hedgebrook writers’ residency on Whidbey Island, which, in a radical act of hospitality, loaned me a cabin in the woods to work on the manuscript.
This book was graced by all the beekeepers who opened their hives, their hearts and their homes: Noah Wilson-Rich in Boston; Aaron Yu, MaryEllen Kirkpatrick, Aerial Gilbert, and Deb Wandell in San Francisco; and in Big Sur: Peter and Ben Eichorn, Diana and Greg Vita; and my Nepenthe clan: Meredith, Kirk, and Will Gafill.
For their patience, understanding and generosity; love and thanks to my family. I wouldn’t have had the strength to write this without the support of my brother, Matt; he protected me when we were young and countless times since. Thank you for being my confidante, for making me laugh and for making things right in the end.
To my father, David, who patiently answered my questions even when it was painful to do so, above all thank you for keeping the promise you made in 1975. You are, and always will be, my dad.
A never-ending thank-you to the honey in my life, Jenn. The bus seat next to me is forever saved for you.