The teachers and staff of the Children’s Community School of West Philadelphia and my daughter’s loving nannies—Pica, Alex, Angel, Madeleine, Daniella, and Teacher Alex—whose hard work allowed me to finish this book.
My cherished friend, Bridget Potter, at whose idyllic Log House I began writing Frida’s story in February 2014.
Friends who listened and encouraged: Sara Faye Green, Emma Copley Eisenberg, Jamey Hatley, Meghan Dunn, Crystal Hana Kim, Vanessa Hartmann, Steven Kleinman, Gabrielle Mandel, Shane Scott, Rui Dong-Scott, CLAW and GPP comrades, my Brooklyn writing group, residency pals, and the 2013–2015 Bread Loaf waiters and social staff. The late Jane Juska. Dorit Avganim, Ellen Moscoe, and Jordan Foley, my West Philly mom crew. Muriel Jean-Jacques, Kristin Awsumb Liu, Maya Bradstreet, Nellie Hermann, and Jenny Tromski, believers for over two decades.
My godmother Joyce Fecske, and the Chan, Soong, Wang, Kao, Diller, Hodges, and Sethbhakdi families, thank you for your love and support. My beloved sister, Audrey Chan, and brother-in-law, Jason Pierre, for solidarity and Chan factory steam. To the loving memory of my grandparents, especially my grandmothers, Chin-Li Soong and Soolsin Chan-Ling.
My parents, James and Susy Chan, for boundless love, a childhood full of books and art, patience, generosity, devoted parenting and grandparenting, and your good example. I cannot ever thank you enough for all you’ve done to make this book, my writing, and my family possible. Thank you for always believing in me.
My husband, Adam Diller, for your love and care and heavy lifting, for this happiness, our family, and our bird. I’m able to write because of the life we’ve made together.
My daughter, Lulu. When you were three and a half, you asked me to include your name in my book. Here it is. I love being your mother and I will try to be good.