Once Upon a Time: True Stories of an Aspiring Writer

Acknowledgements

Aside from occasional corrections and updates, I believe I am just about at the end of working on this project. 

This isn't a published work, but it's one of my longest. And it's my life story, so I think this section appropriate. Besides, few people will read this, so let's go crazy.

But the first, perhaps most unusual, thank you goes to Jim Davis. In a Garfield strip, Jon sits to write a document titled "My Memories by Jon Arbuckle." The story begins "I was born on a farm" and pretty much ends there. Jon didn't get far, but because of this strip piquing my interest years ago, I wrote down a lot of memories. 

Thank you to all the friends I've ever had. Special shout outs to Christine, Haley, and Danielle---besties for life, even if we haven't been for a while! Even Ally---she gave me a chapter in this book, after all. I hope life is treating you better. 

Thanks as well to all my acquaintances, be it a classmate, my third grade buddy, that girl I saw driving home on the bus all those years ago who was convinced she knew me and excitedly got her mom's attention to point me out, or the kid who asked me for a hug in meeting for worship all those years ago. All of you are worthy side characters. 

Thank you to Ben for putting up with me. I'm sorry. Thank you to William Shakespeare for directly inspiring our brief friendship. You give me hope that my writing will influence someone's life centuries from now. 

Thank you to all my family members. 

Most of all, thanks to God for being the writer of my life story and for giving it meaning. May I continue to use the gift you gave me for good and to help and inspire others.