Oh, honey, you wouldn’t believe how grateful I am, how much my heart is full! It’s like a well that’s overflowin’, you know? This whole thing, this book… well, it’s like a dream I never even dared to dream. And I just wanted to say a big old thank you, a big old hug to everyone that helped me. My success feels like when I finally got them darn chickens to lay eggs again. Took a while, and some help, but we got there!
Now, I ain’t no fancy writer, never claimed to be. Words, they get jumbled up in my head sometimes, like a ball of yarn the cat got to. But I gotta say, this book, it wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for some mighty fine folks. Just like that time we had to fix the roof after that storm, couldn’t have done it alone, no sir!
First off, gotta thank my family. My kids, bless their hearts, they always believed in me, even when I was spouting nonsense like a broken faucet. They kept tellin’ me, “You go on, you tell your stories.” Just like when little Timmy kept at it until he could ride his bike, they kept pushing me. And I’m glad they did, I truly am.
- My dear kids, thank you for always believing in this old lady.
- My grandkids, you little rascals, you always put a smile on my face.
- My neighbor, Betty, for bringing over them delicious pies while I was writing.
And then there’s my dear friends. They listened to me ramble on and on, bless their souls. They’d sit there on the porch swing, sippin’ sweet tea, and nod along like they understood every word. Reminds me of them old ladies at the quiltin’ bee, just chatterin’ away. They never made fun, not once. They just encouraged me, like a gentle breeze pushin’ a sailboat along. They always told me that my message was important and that I needed to get it out there to the world.
Now, this book, it’s full of stories. Stories about life, about love, about loss. It’s like a big old stew, full of all sorts of things. Some bits are sweet, some are a bit sour, but it’s all part of it, ain’t it? Just like life, this book has its ups and downs. But through it all, there is a message of hope, I hope.
I remember one time, I was feelin’ real down, like a wilted flower in the summer heat. Couldn’t see the good in anythin’. But then, a little bird landed on my windowsill, singin’ the prettiest song. It was like a little message from above, tellin’ me to keep goin’, to keep my chin up. Reminds me of that time my prize-winning pumpkin got eaten by the deer, was sad for a bit but I planted another one. And that’s what I did. I kept goin’, kept writin’, even when it was hard, even when I wanted to throw in the towel. I didn’t give up, just like I never give up on my garden, even when them pesky weeds keep poppin’ up.
And now, here it is, this book. It’s like a little piece of my heart, put down on paper. I hope it touches folks, I really do. I hope it makes ’em laugh, makes ’em cry, makes ’em think. It’s a message of love, a message of gratitude. And it wouldn’t be here without all those wonderful people who helped me along the way. This whole journey has been a gift, like findin’ a twenty dollar bill in your old coat pocket.
So, to everyone who’s readin’ this, thank you. Thank you for takin’ the time to listen to this old lady’s ramblings. Thank you for openin’ your heart to my stories. I appreciate it more than words can say. It’s like gettin’ a warm hug on a cold winter’s day, that’s what it is.
This book, it’s a thank you note to everyone who’s ever been kind to me, everyone who’s ever lent me a hand, everyone who’s ever made me smile. It’s a thank you to life, with all its bumps and bruises. It’s a thank you for the good times and the bad, for the sunshine and the rain. It took a village to raise this child, and a lot of support to make this book. I hope it shows in every word I wrote. Just know that each word is written with a grateful heart.
And a special thank you to that young fella who helped me with all this computer stuff. Lord knows I wouldn’t have figured it out on my own. He was patient as a saint, that one, explainin’ it all to me like I was a little child. He showed me how to get my words onto the screen, how to make ’em look all nice and neat. He’s a good egg, that one. He helped me craft my message in a way that I could never have done on my own. It’s like when I needed help getting that heavy box up to the attic, couldn’t have done it by myself. I’m grateful that he helped me send my message to you all in a beautiful way, even though it probably took more time than he thought it would!
So, there you have it. My heart is full, and I just wanted to say thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you. From the bottom of my heart, thank you. I appreciate you all more than you’ll ever know. You helped this old lady share her message, and for that I will always be grateful.
