by Mel Jacob
To all the writers whose words have moved, wooed, consoled and humbled me: Judy Blume, David Sedaris, Nick Hornby, John Green, Rainbow Rowell, Cheryl Strayed, Elizabeth Gilbert, Brene Brown, Liane Moriarty, Marieke Hardy, Magda Szubanski, Lena Dunham, Markus Zusak, Robyn Davidson, George Saunders, Steven Pressfield, Augusten Burroughs, Charlotte Wood, Jennifer Egan, Mandy Sayer, Tim Elliott, Trent Dalton and Benjamin Law, just to name a few.
To the staff and wider community at the Blue Mountains Steiner School. Thank you for holding Nick and Lexie so closely and tenderly during this time. There is much truth in the phrase that it takes a village to raise a child.
For my intelligent, thoughtful and witty son, Nick, and my sassy little dynamo of a daughter, Lexie, I am ever so proud of the way you have grown from this experience and I am honoured to have glimpsed some of the characteristics you will one day fully embody as adults.
And for Patrick, my imperfectly perfect husband, best friend and endless source of material. I hope you know I forgive you—this time from the heart.