I’m extraordinarily jacked up about finally having
completed and published Finishing Well. It was a labor of love but also an
enormous amount of good, old-fashioned regular labor. I was aided immeasurably by
both Denise Roy and my sister Paula Roop, who both scanned through the
manuscript looking for errors and found many. I’m sure there are still a few that escaped
their scrutiny, but it’s done.
I hope that the book is enjoyable inasmuch as a book
about death and dying can be. My sincere wish is that it will provide comfort
to those who may be going through similar struggles and a bit of wisdom to
those who might be facing the same experience down the road. The knowledge that
you are not alone and that what you are suffering is not unique can be a
powerful encouragement.
The book has not had pain, disappointment and anger
sanitized out because I determined from the very beginning that if I was going
to write a book about my parent’s final years, it would be an honest one. Besides, if I made a bunch of stuff up, my
mother would come back from the grave and haunt me forever.
But for those of you who loved my parents, you will
not be disappointed in this behind the curtains glimpse into their lives. They
were consistent to the end. They never betrayed their faith. They indeed
finished well.
Just a note to members
of my family…Christmas is coming so give Santa a chance to do his thing! 
