After writing my first book, Bright Sun & Long Shadows and the second, Le Petit Jardin de L'âme, it seemed logical to continue a chronological saga of life in retirement. But while I have kept the practice of correspondence to friends and family which formed the general outline of previous books, I found my energies drawn to the other end of the life-spectrum rather than continuing in chronological fashion about our life in Panama - I was drawn to the beginnings.

Many times, in the comfort of our retirement in Panama I found myself drifting to memories of earlier, formative life-experiences. It was not unusual in my septuagenarian years for me to reflect on how moments from my personal history shape my present-day relationships and events. For better or worse there is a link of my present to earlier times. Sometimes there is a twinkle of the past reflected in my present reaction, or perhaps a bit of guidance by learning from personal history.