Memoir is about handing over you life to someone and saying, This is what I went through, this is who I am, and maybe you can learn something from it.

What I do know is that wondering why you survived don't help you survive.

No one expected you to amount to much," she told me. "Lori was the smart one, Maureen the pretty one, and Brian the brave one. You never had much going for you except that you always worked hard.

You can't prepare for everything life's going to throw at you. And you can't avoid danger. It's there. The world is a dangerous place, and if you sit around wringing your hands about it, you'll out on all the adventure.

One of the many lessons I hope I've learned is how much I underestimated people, their open-mindedness and their willingness to understand. I think, moreover, I underestimated the degree to which everyone has a story. So my advice, for whatever it's worth, is to trust readers, trust the truth and trust the power of storytelling.

Sometimes you need a little crisis to get your adrenaline flowing and help you realize your potential.

All seasons have something to offer