Just Call Me Jane

"I have always had people who knew my mother tell me that “somedaysomeone should write a book about that woman.” While I sometimeshad the inclination to write her story, I never seemed to find the time.However, I was forced to have a spinal fusion and the recovery periodmeant months away from my golf game. I now had the time to write mymother’s story, which turned out to be my story as well.Because this would be a totally new venture for me, I was looking forhelp and input from many directions.Undoubtedly, Martha, my wife, was my biggest helper and supporter.I want to thank her for putting up with Jane and her bizarre ways allthose years. Martha also has a degree in English, which came in veryhandy when editing the book.Next I would like to acknowledge our four children, Mark, Michael,John, and Shannon. They all had to deal with Jane. They reminded meof some of Jane’s eccentricities which are mentioned in this book. Mostof all, I want the kids to know that I sincerely regret that Jane was not abetter Grandma to them. Grandmas are wonderful people and our kidsmissed out on that joy in life.I appreciate the input of Rosie Browning, our friend andaccomplished teacher of English, who read the first draft and made manysuggestions that I welcomed and incorporated into the book. I would alsolike to thank Sandi Faber for her contribution and editing skills.Many thanks to Dee Domingo, our neighbor and computer guru. Icould not have put this book on a flash drive without her.I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge all of my friends who gaveme such positive encouragement. My friend Jeanie Williamson suggestedthe title, and Nancy Campbell, my former secretary, shared some of hermemories with me. Every story about Jane in this book is true and is written exactly asremembered by folks who dealt with her directly. To my brother-in-lawJerome Carrigan, my nephew Jay Carrigan and his wife Lisa, my nieceMichele, and certainly John Nelson, I just want to say “thanks forremembering.”"