When my children asked me to write my memoirs, I thought that some 20 pages would amply fill their needs. Instead, they developed into a full tome, especially when I was urged to add my thoughts about life, based on my own experiences. Thinking about the turbulent times that I have lived through and also the quieter happenings, like the many trips that have become a habit, I decided to go into as much detail as possible. Here is the result, which I hope will not only satisfy my children’s curiosity, but will also be of interest to my grandchildren.