I've written a lot of prose in my lifetime, mostly unglamorous technical documents that very few people will ever read, comprehend or appreciate. I've created a ton of drawings and sketches, mostly cartoons, that only my friends and family would ever look at or understand. I've collaborated on, contributed to, edited, revised, thrown out, shredded, encrypted and archived countless other documents, diagrams and sketches. This is my first official publication though, a real book with an ISBN and everything. It's just over 500 words and is a simple series of rhymes and – thanks to my niece Emily – some top shelf illustrations, but has been the most challenging piece I've ever written. It is the first that will be read by friends, family and complete strangers, and had to be right because it's going to stir a lot of real emotions. The characters, families, situations, lives and memories are real. Some of the memories are raw and will forever sting, but my hope is that this book captures some of the good ones, forever.