I’m Finally Writing My Book!

I'm writing a book! I've been planning this for a very long time; it's something that had become important to me after finding my father.

Several years ago, after a conversation with my mother, I felt empowered to find my father who had disappeared 19 years earlier. I learned he was in a state healthcare facility in Arizona where he was in the late stages of Alzheimer’s Disease. Though I was finallly able to see him again, my father died two months later and I was left with questions that would remained unanswered.

Having been in the medical field most of my life, it was apparent to me that because of the hereditary nature of my father’s illness, it is fairly probable I may be dealt with the same future as his past. This left me to question if I would have the opportunity to share my knowledge and my experiences were I to be blessed with my own kids, or would I leave them with questions and mystery of the person I am. I didn’t get to know my dad, his advice in matters of life, his views on politics, his favorite sports teams, or even if he thought of such things.

This is what prompted me to want to write this book. Certainly I could video tape or write letters of conversations to come and hope they wouldn’t find a permanent home in a box in some corner of an attic somewhere. But with a book, my mind and the thoughts it held could be on the bookshelf or e-reader of my closest friends and family as well as strangers who may by chance find themselves engaged in conversation with them. The best parts of a father’s lessons to future generations would be found within closer reach than a lone box in an attic. “You’re father once said” would be a phrase they'd become accustomed to...for better or for worse..

Even if I didn’t have my own kids, there will be a friend that asks, “how do I handle this?,”I don’t know what to do”, or a stranger that wonders, “am I alone in this?” We all have times that feel like our struggle is a singular one and that simple answers may not come. Maybe something in this book will give someone a glimpse that lets them know there is an answer, that someone before them may have held the same struggle, the same burning question or a missing link to some equation, or some purpose that they had. Sometimes that’s all we need to empower us to stand up and keep moving.

I now have an open window of time, and recent contact with an old friend, whose authored himself, and inspired me, that it's time. My plan is to self-publish and the funding will be used for a legal retainer, copywriting, copy-editing, ISBNs, printing, and distribution for bookstore/ebook review. When published, a perecentage of the book sales would also be allocated for donation support to Alzheimer's research and breast cancer research in support and memory of my mother as well; both causes of which have since become much more important to me.

Star Trek fans may remember a movie line where Captain Picard says to counselor Troi "...Recently, I've become aware that there are fewer days ahead than there are behind.” For me then, it is time...and so I ask, help me fund my book, so that Before I Forget, I can share with future generations that which I learned from the generations that came before me.