I sell my first book to Random House, a memoir of my years as a war photographer, for twice my NBC salary.

It's 2013 ... The Time's obituary for Yvonne Brill, renowned rocket scientist, winner of the National Medal of Technology and Innovations, leads with, 'She made a mean beef stroganoff, followed her husband from job to job and took eight years off from work to raise three children. "The world's best mom," her son Matthew said.

I sell my first book to Random House, a memoir of my years as a war photographer, for twice my NBC salary.

Born in 1966, I came of age at the dawn of a revolution. The past was gone; we would move on and get over it!

I loved to press the shutter, to freeze time, to turn little slices of life into rectangle rife with metaphor.

My husband and I were born three weeks apart, and our plan had always been to throw a joint party for our 40th birthdays.

I am nothing if not rational about what is worthy of my anxiety and what is not, and I refuse to live my life as if a giant bus is just around the corner, waiting to crush me the minute I step off the curb.