<p>By writing my family?s memoirs, I have tried to open a window into the life of my family, first generation Danish immigrants who came to America, not to escape an oppressive government or economic crisis but to seek ownership and control of their lives and their future. I describe their love of family as well as their internal and cultural struggles. My parents and siblings faced numerous challenges and uncertainties while raising a large family, struggling through the Great Depression and renewing their determination amidst successes and failures, joys and tragedies. My family wore the stamp of first generation immigrants with all the uncertainties of living in a new country and speaking only a foreign language. Nevertheless, we had the sense that we were special though our home, clothes and other worldly possessions declared otherwise. By some small miracle, we all survived and achieved varying degrees of success, each in our own way.</p> <p>Writing this book has been a journey of heart and mind as I recount stories about my family and myself. Like most children, I seek to understand who I am from my origin and experiences. My parents left indelible marks on me, my siblings and the generations that have followed. May this memoir enlighten and give context and a measure of insight to family and friends and all those who wonder about the experiences of life we share with our fellow travelers everywhere.</p>