Poetry is a lens through which I view the world. This book is a collection of poems that are an exploration and resolution of events within my personal life plus reflections on the events that occurred during this time period. These events range from recovery from divorce to writing my dissertation to world events, such as the fall of the Berlin Wall to the first Iraq war to the move in Russia from Communism to capitalism in 1990. In addition, I am moved by nature, effects of seasons, and processes of transformations illustrated by rocks becoming soil, green leaves changing to fall colors, seeds growing into plants.

Yes, this has been a life worth living expressed in the poetry I wrote along the way. From the pits of despair when my husband left me to mountaintop experiences years later when I graduated with a PhD in the department of agronomy, Colorado State University, and then later recognized by the Commonwealth of Virginia Assembly as conservation educator of the year in 2008. I found that some experiences along the way were one step forward then one or two back, but I kept my eye on the prize, which is now being played out in retirement and will be finished when I join my Lord in heaven.