Beginning around 2005, this book grew out of frustration and necessity as I observed the slow crumbling away of our so-called American Way. As a teacher, patriot, mother, sister, and troubled soul, I literally began piecing together thiswriting whetherI liked it or not. I kept trying to stop the flow of words, but couldn't. Stream of consciousnessstabbed atme like a dagger,yet Ideclared to myself thatthenegative thrusts of violence, selfishness, and willfulness on the part of societal beings was temporary, not the tip of a disastrous iceberg beginning to crush civility in natureall around me, all around all of us. The tip of collapsehas deepenedin spite of looking the other way or putting my words in a drawer whereI couldn't see them. My language is strongcoupled with a bit of levity, but we must act collectively to make theincreasingly sparce specks of hope materialize into action and perseverance if we are tothrive and survive as a free nation.