Gratifying Feedback

My father is very close to the vest about the book. He has been throughout the entire writing process. While he never showed more than nominal interest, whenever I sent him a section to review for accuracy, he returned it to me via priority mail in the shortest time possible; which means he opened the package upon receipt, read the piece and mailed it the following day.

My brother Barry, who lives nearest my father, called me yesterday. He loved the book. "It's just like I was sitting down talking to Pop." Then he told me that while he was visiting on Sunday, someone called for my father. It was a Vilner, another survivor, who had just finished the book. He told my father how important it was to him. Then his wife got on the phone to tell my father in her own words. Barry could hear the excitement in their voices even though he was hearing only the littlest tidbits of the conversation.

When Vilner read the story and give it a "thumbs up", I'm satisfied. Actually, that's not quite right. When my father received many copies of the book he called and said, "Thank you mine kin-d" (Yiddish for my child), that was all the praise I needed and will need.

Of course I would be happy to hear from readers, but my most important critic is pleased, and that makes all the work worthwhile.