This little book is a compilation of fragments from along the way in a life of someone of modest abilities that began in sickness that reappeared in a different form in early adulthood, but through motivation achieved a Ph.D. from the California Institute of Technology, became President of a small scientific society, a science award from the Soviet Union, and was awarded an honorary Dr. Sci. from the University of Missouri. His career encompassed participation in many of the most important scientific programs of the day, including: the 1949-1955 AEC uranium exploration boom, U.S.-Japan Scientific Cooperation Program of the mid-1960s, NASA Apollo Lunar Sample Program, NASA Missions to Comets and Asteroids Working Group in the early 1970s, and National Acid-Rain Precipitation Assessment Program in the early 1980s. After retirement, he converted to a second career in writing that included publication of two historical novellas and maintained a blog Reunite Gondwanaland. Included are pointers that similar youth might find useful.