Publisher's Synopsis
When writing about most any topic, there's always the question of what to write and what to leave out. It is my full intention to put into this concise autobiography as much information as I can, hoping that at least parts of it will be beneficial to someone at sometime, and perhaps help them or another in their life journey--for we are all here to help one another. I praise God for the ability to read and write, which can often be taken for granted in our modern world. I've always had a great fondness for them, and always wanted to be both a better, more wildly read reader, as well as a much better, more widely read writer. Instead of making this autobiography one long chronological prose without chapters--which at first I thought I might do, I soon came to the realization that someone might want more organization so that they could turn right to a particular category and read about a specific topic and/or retrieve certain information. In addition, I soon found that a long chronological text would be more difficult and not serve my purposes as well. Anyway, I feel that for a work of this size, nature and content, chapters are certainly a must. And although some of the material might be stated more than once, I prefer that rather than run the risk of omitting something. In places, this book is not of any particular design or sequence, except maybe in the beginning where it does somewhat follow a resemblance of chronological order, and within each chapter there is some chronological pattern. However, a good deal of the book isn't in any intentional format or sequence of significance or type of specific arrangement, although I did try to give it what organization I could. Also, in no way is anything written here in any particular manner meant to favor anyone or any events of any kind. I just simply wrote down what I could when I could the best I could. And I did so in more of a freehand style in which I didn't do much editing or rewriting (mostly in the journal) because in that way readers could obtain more of an idea of my personality--for what it's worth. My motivation for writing this autobiography is perhaps somewhat selfish, yet altruistic. I wanted to state as much truth about myself as I could so that others might have a view of what my life has been like, and enable them to better understand themselves and their world. It has also helped me to see more clearly myself and others, as well as our world. At the same time, I was interested in writing down what I could for all of my children and future generations so that they would have something from me that might be of benefit to them someday and give them a sense of being, import, and connectedness. Also, this book is meant to impart some of our ancestry, as well as some of the lessons that I've learned, or haven't learned, in my lifetime--for what they're worth. I started writing an autobiography in my late twenties; but after reading the short document several years later, I didn't like what I'd written or the way it was done. So in my forty-ninth year (2004) I began this autobiography, which I plan to add to as time goes by, God willing and I am able. There is of course always the question of time and how much to devote to what. Anyway, I feel that one part of a well-rounded life is writing a quality autobiography, and not necessarily for any other reason except oneself, which reminds me that "An unexamined life is not worth living." Yes, a famous quote from the great scholar Socrates (470-399 BC), who is one of my true earthly heroes, along with all the others: my extended family, Grandma Kuhns, Moses, Shakespeare, Newton, Thomas Edison, Einstein, Carl Sagan, Jacque Cousteau, Gandhi, Mother Teresa, and many, many, many others. And of course my Heavenly heroes: God, the Father; Jesus; the Holy Spirit, and all the angels. Naturally, I dedicate this book to my family--including all ancestors and future generations. Peace, love and happiness to you all.
