My book has been released, I received my first box, and, yes, I can relate to what it must feel like to kiss the Lombardi Super Bowl trophy!

I’m having my first two gatherings to celebrate this weekend. Tonight: dinner with a group of friends who have been nothing but believers in my book even in the early stages when I wasn’t quite ready to believe in it myself. A couple of them read the raw, unedited manuscript, ignored the typos and mistakes, and gave me two big thumbs up and a kick in the butt to work on getting it published. Tomorrow: lunch in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, the town in which I was born, to have lunch with about 25 of my Hickey cousins (my mom’s maiden name was Hickey) and other family members.

The support I have received from my family and friends has been heartwarming and awesome. And the Hickey love I am so blatantly receiving is helping to fill the gap I feel in not having my parents alive during this incredible time in my life.