Remember this as you read Life Through These Eyes, Vol II: There is always a story within a story. I am often asked, “Are your characters real?” Oh yes, they are all real—very real to me. I loved a few, disliked many, and spent years trying to forget some. The book covers six decades of my life—stories of love, exceptional friendships, pets raising humans, marriage at its best and worst, really mean people, holiday memories, men being men, and much more. At age fifty-eight, I discovered I had a message I wanted to share: A message that contained memories from childhood to retirement; wonderful, and sometimes painful, life lessons; praise and criticism regarding my community; and events and people that made me angry and disillusioned. I found an outlet for many hurtful experiences. Also, I found a way to channel my political feelings. Writing became my therapist.