"Life's best journeys start without a destination, but with two suitcases-one for desperation and one for courage." "Feeling misunderstood is a terrible burden. It keeps us from connecting with others, feeling seen, known and valued-from being embraced because and not in spite of who we are. If we don't have words for what's on our hearts, it helps to hear the voice of a survivor. While listening to their story we hear an echo of ourselves that carries the invaluable hope that if they made it through, we can, too." (Opening lines of new Introduction/ see below) I broke this up into smaller sentences. Clarissa's uniquely captivating story is of a young adult who, in the face of incredible losses, found herself out of options. It is a skillfully crafted portrait that is both tender and courageously honest. Her voice stands out as one that masters the balance between funny and sincere, wise and innocent, otherworldly and relevant. Heading into a new life of uncertainty after losing her family in the fires of divorce, abuse, cancer and temporary mental illness, Clarissa embarks on a worldwide quest for identity, and peace with her past and Germany's history, juxtaposed with discoveries of her ethnic roots in America. Taking to "the ends of the earth," her tired soul comes back to life amidst the magnificent beauty of New Zealand, unaware that her journey to "Middle Earth" would ultimately lead her to make the biggest decision of all by discovering who she never knew she could be.