I traveled to America from the ruins of France in 1946 to build a new life with my husband, a war-weary soldier. Now, almost 75 years later I am surrounded by dozens of relatives. I share my journey from France to America - the pain, the joy, the challenges, the courage, and the love - and what I have learned with each important step along the way. I hope this story of my long life will leave tender memories for my family and friends and help bring personal meaning to the world events that shaped it.