"Today is October 4, 2001. Today is the day I am going to begin writing about who I think I am and how I want to be remembered. Mostly, I write this for my family, whom I dearly love, because I want them to know about my life and especially about some of the amusing and happy experiences I've had. I am a great believer in the healing power of laughter, joy, and feeling good. I am 78 years old, and more and more I realize that this life on earth is finite, so if there are things I want to say, I'd better do it sooner, not later."