Dr. Norah Clarke is an unexceptional and extraordinary woman. The progression of her life is through loss and forgiveness; learning to love and be loved; through growing, friendship, and simple pleasures. Her story could be your own.Spanning six decades, the author weaves together the culture, politics, and landscapes of those times. Each contact and experience brings its own unique influence into the picture of a life being lived the best way possible, given the challenges and alternatives. Dr. Clarke is introduced at the beginning of the fall semester. You will be annoyed with some of her decisions and frustrated with the results while propelled back in time to watch her struggle throughout her journey to become the woman you believe her to be. Like all of us on life's path, we are bound by our experiences, shaped by our choices, and molded by the vessel of life that surrounds us. The power to change course comes when we gain insights into the impacts of the ties that bind.