Being born and raised on a farm in a small town in the late 1940's provides the backdrop for how I have come to view my life today. Growing up in poverty, and considered "at risk" by today's standards, I rediscover each day how those early days have provided me with many of my richest experiences and that they continue to mold me in ways I might not ever be fully aware. Always having delighted in story-telling and now approaching the twilight of my life, I am stirred by a nagging nostalgia that has inspired me to combine that delight with my passion for playing with the English language. All of this I have done in a modest effort to provide my grandchildren with an opportunity to get to know a little more about their grandfather because the miles that separate us often prohibit me from telling my stories to them in person.