These are real-life stories of a grandfather telling his granddaughter about events in his life that were amusing, nostalgic, and often dangerous. These were probably not your usual childhood events unless falling down mountains, spending nights in jails, and smuggling goods across Europe were typical of your growing up. The settings are the South of the 1950s, and Chicago, Europe, and the national parks in the '1960s'. The letters detail his experiences and reflect his rejection of racism and other values so prevalent in Southern society while he was growing up. In his final letter, he comes full circle by enjoying the country lifestyle of his youth and revels in its natural place in his heart.

David Griffith is a retired professor and lecturer from the University of Illinois at Chicago. He also taught history, philosophy, and politics at the Hodges Center for Continuing Education. He also retired from his position as President of the national consulting firm of DMG Consulting, Inc. after also completing many years as a member of management at several consulting firms.He was born in New Orleans, LA. and grew up in Belle Meade, TN, These years in the South sharply influenced his experiences during his Southern upbringing and became the basis of his stories...and his inevitable leaving his home to go to college in Chicago. The Chicago stories represent a soaring of his spirit, an uplifting of the burden he felt he carried from his days in the South where he never felt at ease.And this became a very happy time where he enjoy the intellectual life of a major university alive with an intellectual insistence on truth he had never before.During this period of intellectual growth, he spent his summers in Wyoming, enjoying the beauty of nature and the simplicity of the life there. It was so uncomplicated, yet complete, so honest and natural. Just to ride a horse along the river and flyfish, enjoy the scenery, and see the grandeur of the mountains change hues as the clouds moved over were fleetingly gone. What good be better?