Writing can often feel like a solitary act. That is an illusion. Like everything in life, it takes a village to co-create a book. That has felt even more true during this road trip of intentional homelessness. Thanks to my glorious global village, I was never without a roof over my head, food on my plate, or love on the other end of the line. Which is to say, I could never have written this book without the myriad manifestations of generosity, encouragement, and inspiration shown to me by Carol Wright, Daniela and Gene Anderson, Greg Dove, Jamie Hammond, Todd Christensen, Sarah Douglas, Nancy Cintron, Gay Block, Cynthia Lucius, Peter Fuller, Patricia Bernard, Martina Navratilova, Izzy & Trey, Kim & Richard White, David Bruson, Melissa Etheridge, Aaron Lea, Bill Diamond, Robert Taylor, Dawn Nieto & Bob Gouy, Richelle Steyn, Anne Lazenby, Brigid Beckman, Renee Mercuri, Sheryl Dougherty, Jody Price, Hollis Walker, JoAnn Sabatini, Perdita Finn, Robin Winning, Jody Levine, Gail Larson, Carly Pollack, Rebecca Campbell, Lesley Riley, Tess Ayers and Jane Anderson, and Rachel Hollander.
My deepest heartfelt thanks go out to my heart tribes—OSIS Class of 2016, my Living School Cluster and the worldwide community of horror fans. And for their wisdom, guidance, and many kindnesses, so much love and gratitude to Rev. Diane Berke, Rev. David Wallace, Rev. Franne Demetrician, Rev. Bob Demetrician, Rev. Joyce Lichtenstein, Rev. Sue Koehler-Arsenault, Rev. Lucinda Olson, and Rev. Robin Lane.
I am particularly grateful to Cari Jackson for helping me dive into the wreck and see all the treasures that prevail.
And, as is true of every area of my life over the past quarter-century, I could not have faced down the challenges presented by this epic road trip without the steadfast, generous, and loving spiritual guidance and support of Pamela Phinney.
To my wonderful Airbnb and HomeAway hosts, as well as to the horror con organizers and helpers, schools and organizations who have invited me to speak and have welcomed me to your cities and events, thank you for making this road trip possible.
Thank you to the readers of my Daily Practice of Joy blog, who have joined me on this journey and shared their own joys and sorrows.
A special thank-you to Tracy Lopez—my right-hand and dear friend for over fifteen years. I literally could not have done any of this without her incredible kindness, ongoing support, strong back, and bemused tolerance for all of my idiosyncrasies!
There are two people whose loving presence in my life gives me the courage to stick with this creative journey every single day—my original Cyn and my big brother Barrett.
Everyone needs a best friend. Mine is Pamela Thompson, who always reminds me to lean, listen, laugh and love. And then laugh some more.
Without the incredible Mary Wright, this book, this me, this road trip, this way of being lost might never have come to fruition.
And without Karen Osit listening, reading and re-reading, cheerleading, having faith, and loving me, these past two years would not have been possible.
To the team behind this book:
Thank you Cynthia Cannell—for encouraging me to figure out what it was I really wanted to write, and for being patient while I did.
Thank you Nan Satter—for guiding the early steps of this journey.
Thank you Nora Rawn—for helping me see the bigger picture.
Thank you Katy Koontz—for one of the most interesting spiritual conversations of my life, for laughter, for curse words, for guidance, and for your joy-filled wisdom.
But mostly, thank you Jennifer Feldman—for believing in me, this road trip, and the larger message of this book. I am grateful every single day for our ongoing dialogue and this creative collaboration.
Last but very definitely not least: Although they will never be able to read these words, I hope that Jack, Nina, and Allie know that their four-legged, tail-wagging love has been one of the greatest gifts of my life.