Big Mike: On My Plate

Ben Joravsky, Milo Samardzija and Jon Randolph.

Sophia & Danny, Matthew and Arianna.

Ma, Joey, Mike, James and Steve.

Charlotte & Ron.

Louie, Tony, Lisa, Theresa, Maria, Mark, Sheila, Nick and Doug.

Tim & David and Mikey & Ati.

Anna for the wit.

Margaret, Ruth and Crystal for the opportunity.

Chad, Will and Joy for the doorway.

Amy for forgiveness.

Kenneth, Tim Wood, Tom & Beth, Brady, Tim, Michele and Neville.

Tom and Sid.

Santo and Holtzman for the thrill.

An English Comp 101 instructor named Greg for for the encouragement.

Del and Charna for the training.

Giancarlo for the car and the laptop.

Pat C., Pat A. and Alison for the guidance.

Paula and Annie for the support.

Nancy for the gig.

Jimmi T. and Spencer.

Pam and Sharon.

Tim C., Tim L. and Rob for the window.

Bryson, Wodehouse, Sagan, Ferris, Angier, Lewis, Taibbi, Caro, Capote, Roth and Twain for the words.

Wilder, Coppola and Hitchcock for the pictures.

Bowie, Drake, Gilberto, Gaye, Richard, Herrmann, Wilson, Wonder, Gershwin and Eno for the sounds.

Bruce and Carlin for the attitude.

Democritus for “Nothing exists except atoms and empty spaces; everything else is opinion.”

Einstein for imagining that beam of light.

Armstrong and Aldrin for getting there.

Barack Obama.

George W. for going away.

Reinhardt Sarges for Zoloft.

Kitty for the past eight years and, if we’re lucky and smart, the next 37 years.