Written on My Heart (35 page)

I
owe this one to Karl Krueger in large part. You are the best. New England booksellers are blessed to have you as their fierce and enthusiastic advocate. I also thank Rachel Bressler and Clare Ferraro, who believed in this book as well as in
Red Ruby Heart in a Cold Blue Sea
. To Kate Napolitano, my wonderful editor, I am so very grateful to you. You've been a joy to work with. Gail Hochman, my indomitable agent, and Marianne Merola, literary agent extraordinaire, have supported my work from the beginning and have taken me to places I never imagined I would go in my wildest dreams. And, believe me, I've had some wild dreams.

To the Bearlodge Writers group in Sundance, Wyoming: What would I have done without all of you? You held me together, you made me laugh, and you made me feel like I could have been a cowgirl. There is no higher compliment than that. Pat, Jeannie, Katie, Andi, Connie, Carol, Jim, Jytte, Maureen, Amanda, Kathryn, Kathy, Brittany, and everyone else involved with the group, so many good times at table. Love also to Manning, Dale, Meg, John, Angie, and Michael. I miss you all. I will be back.

This is a book about the joys and struggles of a relationship and sticking together through all of it, good and bad. I thanked some of my women friends for their amazing support during the time I was writing
Red Ruby Heart in a Cold Blue Sea
. For this round of acknowledgments, I want to say how grateful I am to know the partners who have been there for my favorite people through thick and thin. Paul Brown, Allen Gaul, Christopher Horton, and John Paige, you all set such loving standards. My brother, Mick Rogers, and my brother-in-law, Derek Leopin, also shine as fathers and spouses. John Beebe and Joe Lombardo, you are fine, fine men. David “Beaver” Bourget, you truly were The Point's red ruby heart in a cold blue sea. We will hold you dear, forever.

To the kids I like to think I helped raise in some small way: Thanks for the lessons in patience, humor, astonishment, and love. Molly, Casey, Krista, Danica, Jaime, Tommy, Brian, Michael, Rachel, Emily, Anna, Alessandro, Ray, Shannon, Mary, Celeste, Michael, James, Jeremy, Tim, Emma, Willa, Ian, David, and Bonnie—I'm so proud of you. You all humble me. Some of you are beginning your lives as parents and it is such a joy to watch the circle continue, unbroken. To the B-man—you are a hoot. Can't wait for your next chapters.

My parents, Warren (Smudge) Rogers and Frances Callan Rogers, were high-school sweethearts. They married in December 1950 and celebrated their sixty-sixth anniversary at the time this book was being published. In their quiet way, they managed to raise four children who turned out “pretty decent” as my Dad would put it. During a dance at a wedding, a deejay asked them how they had managed to stay married for so long. “Just be good to each other,” my father said. Good advice.

Readers, thank you for embracing Florine and Bud's world and for cheering them on. Love who you love with everything you have and just be good to each
other.

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