Building a Home with My Husband (36 page)

Once construction began, I was grateful to encounter many friends and strangers who were willing to offer their knowledge. Top on the list are the hardworking Dan Bachtle and his staff at Edge Construction, including Dave Undorf, master carpenter; Victor Belardo, assistant carpenter; and Scott Duffie, painter, as well as Ron Piechowski of Horizon Electrical. Other experts include Patrycja Doniewski of qb3 design in Philadelphia; Bob Ernst of FBN Construction in Boston; Thomas Hine; Tony Junker; Pete Maruca of Orion General Contractors in Haverford, Pennsylvania, and his master carpenter, Irv Morey; and Earl Rentz at Conectiv in Delaware.

On the occasions when spiritual and psychological supplies were needed, I was blessed with many kind and giving people. Dr. Theodore Hiebert guided me through my thoughts about adversaries and allies. Family therapist Rachel Cox provided reassurance that renovation is as much a matter of emotion as it is construction. Anne Dubuisson Anderson made sure that this project didn’t explode. During the time I spent in revisions, several gifted students also helped me keep my spirits up by giving me reasons to leave the desk, including (but hardly limited to) Melissa Bromwell, Elizabeth Catanese, Renee Chastain, Julie Church, Caitlin Dowdall, Ellen Goodlett, Steve Hagenbuch, Christian Hoyt, Tara Malone, Tammy Metz, Anna Lehr Mueser, Tasneem Paghdiwala, Faith Paulsen, Nick Pentzell, Rachel Sandler, Kate Small, Shubha Sunder, Will Turnbull, Ilana Vine, Sarah Westbrook, David Williamson, and James Zoshak. And I also owe much of my sanity to both sets of neighbors, including Kim Leary, Tom and Alice Davis, Catherine Drabkin and Pahl Hluchan, Trish and Glenn Kocher, and Carol and Sandy Woolworth, with a big kiss I must blow into the wind for the late and dearly missed Mary Young-Wilson.

The process of building by hand also requires, as Hal taught me, an enduring respect for patience. I have long held my agent, Anne Edelstein, in high regard for many reasons, including her wisdom, warmth, enthusiasm, and faith in me. Now I can add to that list her patience, as she gave me all the time I needed to construct this book while she remained steadfast in her support and generous with her friendship. Anne, this house would not be a home without you. Thanks also to Krista Ingebretson, Anne’s trusty assistant, whose lovely personality makes everything easier.

Nor would this house be a home without my editors at Dutton: Trena Keating, who served for years as my interior designer extraordinaire, and Erika Imranyi, whom I met after construction was underway. In the early stages of my apprenticeship with Trena, her reliability, composure, and respect for me ensured that a light always remained on in my spirit, even in the darkest moments; once we moved into on-site work together, I felt blessed by the way these same qualities helped bring out my best on the page. My guidance from Erika has been equally gratifying, and not only because she’s as knowledgeable about story and words as she is about married life with an architect. Erika’s mirth, optimism, patient ear, and clear eye sustained me through the whole process. In addition, I’m deeply grateful to Brian Tart for his enthusiastic support. A bouquet of blueprints to all of you.

Finally, there would be no house without Hal. So much began that day you said good morning back to me, and, although I know that nothing is permanent but impermanence, I so hope that our good mornings continue until time has lost all of its meaning.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Rachel Simon is the author of the bestselling memoir
Riding the Bus with My Sister,
which was adapted for a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie. Her other books include the short story collection
Little Nightmares, Little Dreams
and the novel
The Magic Touch.
She and her husband live in Wilmington, Delaware, on a street informally known as Teacher’s Lane. For more information, please see
www.rachelsimon.com
.