The Rules of Inheritance (48 page)

 

There is only a single breath before they become aware of my presence, and in that breath I wish desperately to stop time. I want to live in this moment forever.

 

But I know I can't.

 

I know that we will all keep marching forward. That Veronica will one day become a woman. That Greg and I will grow old.

 

That all three of us will die.

 

But I also think that somehow, somewhere, this moment will continue to exist. That it will spin out across the universe, the three of us, linked by love and by those who have loved us, encapsulated for the rest of time in a perfect bubble of golden afternoon light.

It's hard to know where to begin thanking the people in my life for making this memoir possible. Creating this book wasn't just about writing, but about moving forward as an individual with the help of many, many others.

I'd like to first thank the esteemed group at Penguin, in particular Clare Ferraro and Caroline Sutton, and especially Denise Roy, who is more my idea of a soul mate than an editor. A generous heap of gratitude is due to my agent, Wendy Sherman, who believed in me when others didn't, and who is a model for the kind of savvy and confident woman that all females should aspire to be.

I am so appreciative of the team at Advocate Hospice in Chicago, and the members of my Saturday bereavement group. My time with all of you taught me more about life and love than you know.

I want to deeply thank two of my most influential writing teachers, Pearl McHaney and Joan Dulchin. Pearl, you flung open the door of literature for me, and Joan, you pulled me through it.

The amount of friends and family I want to acknowledge is vast. A big thank-you to writer friends Jillian Lauren, William Richter, and Brad Listi for helping me along the publishing path. Thank you to Jessica Herman, Emilie Zanger, Elizabeth Garrett, and especially Lien Ta for early reads and valuable criticism on these chapters, and for being the best kind of friends a girl could ask for. Speaking of girlfriends, Ashley Alexander, Laura Dawson, Channah Gray, Amber Hopper, Abigail Freeman, and Francesca McCaffery must also be thanked for their fierce love and support through the years. Holly Bond Farrell and Lucy Curtis, you both get a special shout-out for seeing me through some of the worst years, and loving me despite—we'll always have Bangkok. Liz Gillies, if I have a sister in this life, it is you.

Additionally, a hearty thanks must be sent out to all of my devoted blog readers. Your comments, e-mails, and support over the years have been astounding and have filled my life with a strange magic that only strangers over the Internet are capable of creating.

Finally, to my aunt and uncle, Pam and David Purdy, who have treated me like their own child, I will never be able to thank you enough for all that you have given me. Thank you to my brother Mike Smith—I'm always happy to tell you how much I love you. More gratitude to my aunt Penelope Chatterton and my cousins, Ron, Jessica, Kristen, Chris, Steffani, and Alex; I am honored to be part of this family. I also want to thank Bill and Rita and all of their children for folding me into your clan—I feel privileged to carry the Boose name.

Lastly to Greg and Veronica, you have healed me. I am so humbled to be your most important person.