Nina McIntosh was the author of The Educated Heart, the first ethics book specifically in the area of roles and boundaries for massage therapists and bodyworkers. Her diagnosis of ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) and her death 15 months later was chronicled through her journal on the CaringBridge website. Her dignity and her ability to maintain her sense of humor while she was dying serve as a testimony to the human spirit. Nina did what we should all do...got her affairs in order, spent precious time with friends and family enjoying herself as much as she could, and faced her circumstances with acceptance and grace. When anger and fear rattled her, she griped about it a little, and then shook it off and kept laughing as much as possible. This book evolved from being just about Nina to being about the act of dying. We're all going to do it. We should all be so lucky to live and love and laugh as fully as she did as long as we can. The thousands of massage therapists and bodyworkers who knew Nina, or who read her book or her regular column in Massage & Bodywork Magazine, know how many lives she touched. To those who didn't know her, you'll wish you had This book is full of inspirational and funny observations about death, and practical advice for preparing for your own departure. To anyone who has lost someone dear to them, or who is dealing with terminal illness of your own, or of a loved one, Nina's story will have you laughing through your tears.