The year 2011 has been one of the more memorable years experienced by this writer. The social happenings, the political events and the economy all worked together to make it a year to remember. This is not a commentary on those events, but these essays have been affected by the events. These are simply stories I have told from time to time, and would tell to my children and grand-children if they were inclined to listen. They aren't so inclined. So, I'm hoping that some day they will pick this book up and read it, along with others I have written, and say to themselves, "So, that's where I came from. That's who I am."