At the end of Fried Green Tomatoes, Jessica Tandy holds what’s left of her life in a box. Turning fifty next year has me thinking about that, asking myself, “What would I put in my box?”

The book you hold is my answer, a box filled with big dreams buoyed by the blessings of family and friends. Without dreams, without the people that supported me, I’m not sure I would’ve survived a creative life in one piece. My first big dream was simply to walk. My second big dream was to tell good stories, which proved almost as hard.

I hope you enjoy browsing through my box. If you’re in it, you mean something to me.

David Alan Hall
2013