The idea Why did I write Miles from Home – The Journey of a Lifetime ? The idea to tell my story came from some of my family members who wanted to know more about our history and my own desire to leave something behind. As I approached my senior years, if I was ever going to do it, the time had come. It was very hard to relive some of my life, but with good mentors and people around me who really cared about me, I was able to survive and overcome.

Everyone has a story to tell, but only a few take the time to write their life story as they remember it.

I think it is very important to those in your family who come after you to know who you are and what part you played in their history. My guess is that they will find something positive and inspirational in your story. As I reflect on the experiences I have had in my life, I realize that though there were always people who made my life difficult, there were more who were positive role models, mentors and motivators.

It is the relationships with those people I choose to focus on and retain memories of. All my life, I have believed that relationships are the most important asset a person can have. I credit my relationships—with family, friends, coworkers, customers,acquaintances, and even God—for any success I have attained in my life. Relationships have always given me the strength to use my bootstraps to carry on.

Though the path of my life has been filled with struggles, I hope it can be said that while I was pulling on my own bootstraps, I also inspired and helped those with whom I crossed paths to pick up and carry on as well. Walking across America gave me time to think and I believe my story can be inspirational reading.