MOTIVATION FOR COMPILING MY MEMOIR WAS TO LEAVE A SNAPSHOT INTO MY LIFE''S TRAVELS FOR WHOMEVER MIGHT HAVE AN INTEREST. WHEN I BEGAN AN INTEREST IN MY ANCESTRY, THERE WAS LITTLE TO BE FOUND. FEW RELATIVES WERE LEFT AND THEIR MEMORIES SKETCHY. HOPEFULLY MY STORY MIGHT REVEAL A LITTLE OF WHO I HAVE BEEN AND ALLOW ME TO IN SOME WAY TO SHARE IN THE LIVES OF OTHERS.IN THE PAST THERE ARE SITUATIONS YOU PREFER TO FORGET AND OTHERS YOU ARE HAPPY TO RELIVE, I EXPERIENCED BOTH. THE EXERCISE OF RESEARCHING AND RELIVING YOUR PAST IS ONE OF CATHARSIS AND VALIDATION. FROM THE SMALL EXAMPLE OF MY LIFE IT''S CLEAR TO ME THAT SOCIETY IS ADVANCING WITH HOPE AND OPPORTUNITY AS NEVER BEFORE. THE 24/7 NEWS MEDIA SPOTLIGHTS DISASTERS AND POLITICAL TURMOIL BUT BEHIND THE SENSATIONALISM LIES AMAZING PROGRESS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR YOUTH AND FOR OUR PLANET--- WE LIVE IN EXCITING TIMES.