If You're Out There(74)

To my dad, who is the weirdest and the funniest, thank you for letting me treat you like a human dictionary growing up. Your opinion means more to me than just about anyone’s, and though I was too embarrassed to tell you back then, your belief in this book was enough to make me cry.

To my mom, exuberant co-mermaid and Louise to my Thelma, thank you for always being the voice in my head, cheering me on and propelling me forward. I try so hard to be like you. Most people see all the ways something might not work. You always see how it could.

To my husband, Bobby, who has long since accepted seeing himself in my work (because how could I resist? He is just too damn charming and wonderful): there is no thank you big enough. During all those years nannying and working odd jobs, you called me your “lottery ticket.” It would be my greatest honor to one day make you my trophy husband.

And of course, thank you, dear reader! Without you, all of this would just be ink on a page.