This is a powerfully evocative memoir of a life that starts in New York City and crosses East Asia, Western Europe, Latin America, and the American southwest. The lively narrative traces six decades of the author's life, beginning as a precocious, quiet natured child in a turbulent, combative household. It recounts a life spent largely in motion, and the determined struggle to reach personal fulfillment in the face of contrary demands and persistent upheaval. It's a compelling story of dedication, survival, and the joyous complexity of new beginnings.--From publisher description.