Thompson - A little thing called life: on loving Elvis Presley, Bruce Jenner, and things in between

There are so many wonderful, inspirational people worth mentioning in my acknowledgments. Im sure I may leave out some who deserve to be recognized, and my hope is that you will know who you are, forgive my brain lapse, and understand how much you have meant to my life and remembrances.

Brandon, your love for your gorgeous wife, Leah, is inspirational. Leah, you amaze me with your talents, beauty, and humility. You are what every woman aspires to be on so many levels. I love you. You are an incredible mother to my precious first grandchild, the incomparable Eva James Jenner! Every time I see Eva smile, my faith in life is renewed and my heart melts. Brandon, you are everything that a father should be, just as you are exemplary in so many ways. Eva is a very lucky little girl to have you both as her parents! I love you.

Brody, your deep love for your beautiful fiance, Kaitlynn, makes my heart happy. Kaitlynn, thank you for always being so present, thoughtful, and inclusive. I adore spending time with you and the freedom of sharing our feelings. I love you. You have a special place in my heart. Brody, thank you for consistently being such a fierce and loyal ally. Your honesty and integrity are outstanding in a world not always so transparent. I love you.

My brother, Sam, you have always been my most constant friend, and we have a bond of shared history that can never be broken. I admire your intelligence and integrity more than you may ever realize. You are that rare man who can effectively communicate his feelings with truth and compassion. I love you. And to my other best friend, Louise, you are the dearest, most solid, authentic, reliable friend Ive ever known. I respect your faith in God and your efforts to be the best person you can. Im so lucky to call you my sister in law for all these years. You are, in truth, my sister. I love you.

My darling nieces, Jennifer and Amy, you have been so deeply ensconced in my heart from the first moment I saw your baby faces! Im so very proud of how you have both worked exceedingly hard to help others in your professional lives! You have never been superficially motivated, but remain down-to-earth and focused with your natural beauty always shining through. You, like your mom, Louise, make me proud of my gender. I love you both as if you were my own children, and I love your significant others as well, Sebastian and Murat. I also love your babies as if they were my own grandchildren! Mason, born on Elviss birthday, is so affectionate, intelligent, and playful; he and I have always had a special closeness. And baby Ayla is on her way to being a great girl like her mommy, Amy, and her Aunt Jennifer!

Aunt Betty, Aunt Dorothy, Aunt Marie, Aunt Christine, cousins Helen, Janet, Shelly, Brenda, Lori, David, Daphne, Wally, Jackie, Scott, Steve, Ninny, Pappaw, Grandma, and allplease know that I love my family, and I thank you all for being who you are individually, and for being such an integral part of my life.

I am so lucky to have someone I call my ex-wife-in-law, Chrystie Scott. I love you, and I thank you for being a part of my family for so many years. I adore you, Cassandra, and your beautiful family, Michael, Frankie, and Bella. Burt and Valerie, your baby boy on the way is sure to be a precious addition to our family! I love you, Burt and Casey. I always have and I always will. You are so dear to me and a big part of my best memories.

Sarah Tomlinson, I could not have done this without your help. Your patience, lack of ego, kindness, intelligence, and empathy inspired me to write from my heart. Your willingness to let me take the reins says everything about how gracious, professional, and competent you are. You are a truly lovely spirit, and you have become a most cherished friend during this intense process. Thank you.

Matt Harper, you are every writers dream editor! Thank you for your expertise, sensitivity, knowledge, time, and commitment to this project. You are a credit to your profession! Lisa Sharkey, thank you for your belief in me and the encouragement you gave me. Heidi Richter and Michael Barrs, thank you for all of your efforts to help me promote this book.

Jan Miller, I am so grateful for your friendship and your support during this process. You are a remarkable woman and I treasure our relationship, both professional and personal.

I have been inordinately blessed with the most loyal of friends. You are too numerous to mention, but Ill try to acknowledge some of you here. I want you to know by this acknowledgment, that any kindness you have shown me is not unrecognized or forgotten. You may or may not even be aware that you made a difference in my life, but you all have:

Michael Woods, Jorge and Kindra Vivo, Steve Dorff, Teresa McLeod, Ryan Clarkson, Jeanne LeMay, Susan Walden, Ashley and John Lewis, Kelly Wade, Susan Yeagley and Kevin Nealon, Pam and Greg Evigan, Anne and Steve Stodghill, Donna and Dan Aykroyd, Denise Martell, Megan and Peter Chernin, Betty and Bill Cacciatore, Dennis Ivans, Jane and Howard Smith, Jelinda and Barry Devorzon, Layla and Essam Khashoggi, Cheryl and Haim Saban, Carole and Bob Daly, Phyllis and Dennis Washington, Ghada and Ray Irani, Kofi, Irena and Mike Medavoy, Barbra Streisand and Jim Brolin, Tania and Eric Idle, Pam and Ed McMahon, Karen and George Rosenthal, Greta Detrick, Marty Allen, Jane and Tim Allen, Julie and Rick Dees, Alison Miller, Julie Araskog, BJ Cook, Lynn Palmer, Donna Antebi, Arianna Huffington, Brian Avnet, Alison Azer, Catherine Bach, Nancy Moonves, Edie and Skip Bronson, Marianne Rogers, Kenny Rogers, Keely and Pierce Brosnan, Linda and Jerry Bruckheimer, Roma Downey and Mark Burnett, Sharon and Christopher Cain, Shakira and Michael Caine, Jackie Collins, Gia and Anthony Carides, Andreas Carlsson, Linda and Don Ohlmeyer, Michelle and Mark Carter, Kari Clark, Suzanne and Alan Hamel, Natalie Cole, Kevin Costner, Meir and Katya Teper, Tracy and Tony Danza, Chris Earthy, Anita and Nathan East, Greg Philinganes, Nita Whitaker, Barbara and Marvin Davis, Nancy and Kenny Rickle, Suzanne DePasse, Esther and Rick Rosenfield, Eloise and John Paul DeJoria, Danielle Del, Wendy Burch, Dorothy Lucy, Pam Temmen, Celine Dion and Rene Angelil, Wenda Fong, Cheryl Wheeler, Alexandra Dwek, Margie and Jerry Perenchio, Joe Esposito, Evelyn Heyward, Marie Ferro, Corrina Fields, Bui and Herb Simon, Frances Fisher, Margo Jones Fitzgerald, Joan and Larry Flax, Dee Dee and Rob Frank, Dorothy Torresi, Larry Ellison, Gary Hudson, Robyn Moore, Mel Gibson, Laure and Danny Stern, Dean Graham, Lisa Gregorish, Mary Hart, Brenda and Lionel Richie, Brooke Shields and Chris Henchy, Bill McGee, Tina and Brad Hillstrom, Lisa and Dustin Hoffman, Cindy and Alan Horn, Joanne Horowitz, Diane Warren, Risa Shapiro, Jane Seymour, James Keach, France and Art Janov, Gail Evertz, Pat Kerr Tigrett, Jena and Michael King, Jane and Jerry Weintraub, Shawn and Larry King, Michael Klein, Leslie klinger, Lester Knispel, Anne and Arnold Kopelson, Kelly Sutherland, Lyn and Norman Lear, Avril Lavigne, Mavis and Jay Leno, Julie and Les Moonves, Sam Lovullo, Jon Lovitz, Sheryl and Rob Lowe, Shirley MacLaine, Lee Majors, Tamar and Bob Manoukian, Sandy and Wink Martindale, Richard Marx, Suzie Greene, Wanda McDaniel, Mike Meldman, Vicki and Rafi Mense, Arnon Milchan, Maureen OConnor, Evelyn and Mo Austin, Jackie and Trevor Rahn, Barbara and Don Rickles, Caroline and Mike Cusamano, Cindy and Jerry Schilling, Martha Snider, Kathy Spanberger, Paula Kent Mehan, Shelly and Donald Sterling, Bobi Leonard, Eileena Stovall, Alan Nierob, Craig Susser, Judy Swartz, Tonya York Dees, Tammy York, Donna and Richard Chesterfield, Robin and Alfredo Trento, Tricia and George Tunic, Donna and Ronnie Tutt, Steve Tyrell, Julia Van Hees, Thereza Verboon, Ruth Vowels, Vicki Walters, Sela Ward, Patricia Waters, Hind Selah, Pat and Red West, Charlie White, Vanna White, Arda and Alex Yemenidjian, Helen and Sam Zell, Josh Trabulous, Lillian, Walter and Wendy Rodriguez, Hilda and Naylin Jarquin, Christie Renteria, Jacque Lookofsky, and too many others to fill these pages! Thank you! God bless you all!