Dedication

Alan, for your steady wind beneath my wings across the decades;

Jocelyn, for our dear affinity of kin and friendship;

my father, Victor, for giving me my first knife, a dear gift that keeps on giving;

Robin, Diane, and Anna Lyn, for being such generous and cheerful ambassadors;

Gayle, for making of your gardens a veritable Heaven on earth, for warm hugs and long talks;

Valerie, for your abiding affection for birds and bunnies and squirrels;

Olga, Lydia, Kristine, Samia, and Herr Douglas, for imparting to me your love for the languages you've taught me;

all writers of notes, who aspire to care for their people in beautiful ways that "give delight and hurt not"

and to all of the seasons, each of which is my very favorite when it has arrived.

Thank you.

There are no ordinary people. You have never met a mere mortal.

- C. S. Lewis