In my childhood I only met my grandfathers one time over a few days when they were elderly men and in their final decline. I was four years old and they were in their eighties. Across a lifetime I've wondered what it would have been like to truly know my grandfathers, how they experienced their world, and how those revelations and relationships might have changed my life for better or worse. When I first decided to write down the things which mattered most to me in life, I had to ask myself who was my intended audience. I decided I had no more important audience than my children, my grandchildren, and their friends. I wanted to share with them my life, my experiences, my mistakes, and the lessons I've learned. This doesn't mean they'll heed any of it: it does mean they'll have the opportunity if they wish too.