We all have an inheritance to leave...only some leave more than what is required. There is no greater gift of inheritance than the gift of words; whether written or spoken, they remain someone’s memory, and our legacy, forever.

I do not ascribe to chance or happenstance. This novel was written over twenty years ago. I was working with my father-in-law to get it published before he passed from this life. Our plans and efforts, however, did not come to be; he passed away May 28, 2015. My daddy became sick the following year, putting this novel on hold. When my daddy passed away, I was left to care for my mother until I had to find an assisted-living facility to give her the care that she needed, and I could no longer personally provide.

Which leads us to the setting of this novel, taking place in the early 1990s and having reference to stories as far back as the 1920s. I never thought that at the age of fifty-three, I would be able to recall a simpler time in my life that wasn’t so long ago. In the early 1990s, we had not yet experienced the technology boom that forever changed communication and the way we live. In this novel, you will find no cell phones, no texting, no phone cameras, no social media, no key fobs, and no computerized medical notes. What you will find, however, is the simple beauty of the personal relationships of the residents and staff of an assisted-living facility.

While the storyline of this novel is poignantly beautiful, there is a much deeper understanding to be gained. We would all do well if we could learn to listen honestly and become slower to speak. May we be provoked to desire to check ourselves, humble ourselves, and take it upon ourselves to ascertain the exact meaning of our vocabulary. My prayer is that we may be encouraged by the intention and desire of the author in the sharing of this novel, The Voice of the Sphinx—the inheritance of my father-in-law, John J. Klingerman, MD—to his dear children, John, Kelly, Mark, and Chris.