I wrote this book during a crazy year in my family’s life—some of which was very sad, but most of which was life-affirming, even the parts stuck on the New Jersey Turnpike.

I’m grateful to many people for help along the way.

Thank you to Bill Thomas, who guided this project with wisdom and patience, which is remarkable, since Bill is a fan of the New York Yankees. The great David McCormick was nutty enough to think this book was a good idea, but David also thinks a golf vacation is a good idea. I am grateful to Rose Courteau and Emma Borges-Scott, as well as the relentless Todd Doughty. Thank you to John Vilanova for your input and careful eye. Thanks also to Nick Khan, Michael Davies, Sarah Aubrey, Alissa Bachner, Pete Berg, and everyone at Film 44.

At the Wall Street Journal: Thank you to Sam Walker and Mike Miller for being daft enough to hire me, and thank you to my encouraging overlords Robert Thomson and Gerry Baker for not canning Sam and Mike for hiring me. Thanks also to editors Darren Everson, Jim Chairusmi, Geoff Foster, Derick Gonzalez, Kevin Helliker, and Matt Oshinsky for their guidance and making sure I don’t misspell “Nowitzki.” That is how you spell “Nowitzki,” isn’t it?

A huge thanks to WSJ readers everywhere. You all completely rock.

I am grateful for mentors of all types: Dick and Jody Reston at the Vineyard Gazette; Gareth Cook and Peter Kadzis at the Boston Phoenix; my GQ and ex-GQ friends Jim Nelson, Devin Friedman, Mark Healy, Andy Ward, Michael Hainey, Fred Woodward, Mary Stiehl, and Adam Rapoport. At Vogue I am indebted to Anna Wintour, Eve MacSweeney, Taylor Antrim, Jill Demling, and of course, Beyoncé.

Peter Kaplan brought me to New York City. I miss him every single day.

I feel like an orchestra is going to play me off at any second—Thanks to Chris Gay, Violaine Etienne, Blue Etienne-Gay, the Reckers, Ali Tenenbaum, Dan/Josh/BR/V/Dicky, Rob Lombardi, Alessandro Matteucci, and all of the NYC peloton. Thanks to Philip and Wilson Kerr, Dom & Jamie, Scocca, Crowley, the late shift at Rodrick Industries, Inc., Omar at the mail shop, and Bar Bruno. Thanks to the Maturines—Osheal, Nikita, and Mr. Thez. A huge thank you to Bob Oster, Ann Oster, Nick Oster, Erin Hall, and Lori Mulligan, and of course to the amazing, impeccable Genie Flinn for her sharp advice. Thank you to all my in-laws from Baltimore and Summerland. I’d name you, but if I forgot one of you, I’d be booted off the island.

Okay, cousin Hunter, you owe me $1.

Thanks to my mom, Marilyn Gay, for everything—you’re a remarkable person, a globe-trotter, an inspiration, the glue. And thank you to my father, Ward Gay, who played a brilliant five-setter (no tiebreakers) until the end. I miss him very much.

My family is very grateful to everyone who was there for us during my father’s final months.

Thanks to my children, Jesse and Josie, who can’t read this yet, and probably need to start cracking.

Finally, thank you to Bessie Oster: my partner, friend, canoe boss, role model, and loveliest person I know. Also: definitely the only person I know who once left home and joined the circus. For real.

I love you all.