White - Betty White in Person

To Bart Andrews and Sherry Robb, my agents, for making me say yes to the project in the beginning; To Loretta Barrett, my editor, for all her help... especially her invaluable positive response, each time I needed it most; To Gail Clark, without whom I couldnt keep my life in working order, let alone write a book; To Rudy Behlmer for his patience, understanding, and encouragement; To Kay Daly and to Lee Moorer for their unfailing love and support and being there through all the years... upon which I depend so much; To Aime Friedman for her unmeasured honesty and enthusiasm; To Mary Ellen and Ed Hicks for picking up the pieces; To all the friends and Superfriends, past and present, who have made weaving the tapestry such an interesting game for me.

As well as to Timothy, Cricket, and T.K. for their constant presence and comfort throughout this adventure;

My deepest thanks

This book turned into something completely different from what was originally intended... not better... just different. I dont really know at just what point I lost control.

There was a meeting... I remember that... and I went in fully intending to say a polite but definite no to writing another book. I recall someone explaining, gently, that all it would be was a series of short essays on a variety of subjects from my frame of reference.

Oh! Well! That was different! It didnt really matter that I hadnt the foggiest as to what that meant... it sounded great in the meeting. It was not five minutes after I arrived before I was nodding like a Christmas tiger... Oh, yes! That sounds like it would be fun to do!

The backbone of an earthworm.

Having been a dedicated closet writer... we are legion... I have been jotting down thoughts and ideas for as long as I can remember. Not for anyone to see... it was my own private little exercise. It also helped remind me of things that might otherwise be erased from the mental tape recorder.

So that is what I assumed I would be working on... random observations... nothing personal.

What I soon discovered in the course of this adventure is that there is no way to report on your feelings and opinions without getting personal. It is impossible to avoid the I, me, and my syndrome. This immediately steers you off course, away from any objectivity whatsoever... and you find yourself smack in the middle of the Sea of Subjection.

That is how this whole thing got away from me, and took on a life of its own.

As a result, you are going to hear a great deal about the people who have been closest to me... Allen Ludden... my mother and father... the people I work with... my friends... and Superfriends.

You will hear about what makes me laugh... and what makes me cry... what I love... and what I hate.

What you will not hear is a series of short essays on a variety of subjects from my frame of reference.

Sorry. It just didnt come out that way.