My Christmas Day was spent at the fire station, and it was quite busy. My family exchanged Christmas gifts the night before. My daughter apologized that I wouldn't be able to receive my gift for another week or so. Since then I have been quite busy with work and life, and had just about forgotten that something special was coming for me. Thursday evening the sound of a large truck sqeaking to a stop resonated through the open windows at our house. Jana leaped up like a world class sprinter exploding out of the blocks. As she grabbed the small, flat box from the delivery man's hands, it was quite clear, Christmas time was here.

We all convened in the master bedroom for the opening of my gift. What transpired in the next few seconds overwhelmed me. Actually, overwhelmed doesn't quite do it justice. I was speechless. As I unwrapped the package I saw a book. More aptly, My Book. My daughter researched through Photographica and edited 48 of my stories,  sent them to a publisher, and had my words published. It has always been a dream of mine to publish a book and she made that dream come true.

Each page bears some of my Signature ramblings and photographs. One extra gift was the reuniting of Hana's Story with Hana's long lost Father.

As much as I loved the book, there is truly a greater gift I was given that day. On lulu.com you can search "McNeel". The book will have a preview that includes her forward. Long after the pages fade, her love and adoration will live on within my heart. Many authors and poets have written volumes on life and it's meaning. But surely those greatest things evern penned were written upon the hearts of men.

jeffrey