Acknowledgments
Thank You
The release date of this book is within the same year as I celebrate my 40th wedding anniversary to my first wife, Valerie. If I am lucky enough to write another book, or ten books, my first acknowledgement will always be to her. After subtracting the time we spend with our business, our faith, and our grandchildren, there is very little time left for each other. Part of that remaining time she allows me to become attached to my laptop and the stories running through my head. Valerie, thank you sweetheart, for 40 years of devotion, love, happiness, and laughter you have given me.
Thanks to my two initial readers, my close friend, Jerry Herbert, and my son and business associate, Jeremy Shupe. They had the nerve to read the book long before its final form and made some significant, early suggestions that helped drive the final product.
My first experience with a story coach was a good one. I was anxious about having someone rip apart my story and tell me how bad it was. Linda Cashdan, with Word Process, wasted no time getting to the point, doing what good coaches do, turning my manuscript upside down. Thanks Linda for the occasional side comments every two or three pages, “…now, don’t get discouraged!” Two months later I sent her the re-birthed copy. She was again, nice, “I can see you have done a lot of work.” If you need a coach, this is the lady to call.
I want to especially say thank you to Professor Charlotte Twight, the inspiration for part of my storyline. Professor Twight is an individual that many in our government have, I think, intentionally overlooked. This lady did her homework and documented much of the abuse that took place in Washington during the 1960s and focused a bright light on the gradual undoing of our fabric by creating generations of dependent citizens in every aspect of our society. Everyone in America should read her book, Dependent on DC, listed in the Forward. I want to thank Professor Twight for allowing me to be a part of her discussion and hopefully another piece of the answer.
Finally, I want to acknowledge the hundreds of insurance professionals that surround me daily as we struggle against all odds to get the correct message to the public. We all share the same frustration when we hear politicians and the media banter about terms that not only are defined incorrectly but have little, if any, bearing on the real problems we face fixing the national healthcare cost crisis in the US. These professionals are the reason the US, and the world, enjoy the level of healthcare services and products that are used today. Without insurance and the people who service those products - including the mistakes they made and are willing to correct - money for research and development would never have been available. My associates and I encourage you to find out for yourself. Turn off the television and start reading everything you can get your hands on. Never accept a short sound bite without challenging the orator. Ask a lot of questions. You will be surprised at just how few answers you receive.