Dedication

Alden & Alicia Gajo

Today, on the 9th of April, 2018, my father turned ninety-three, and my mother was to turn ninety in July. They celebrated sixty-eight years of marriage, marked by a passion for life and remarkable patience. Born in a third-world country, where education was often the only form of wealth available, my father, a lawyer, pursued his studies despite the devastation caused by World War II. At the same time, my mother raised six children and studied to become a teacher while earning a living through dressmaking. Together, they committed their lives to raising seven children and made countless sacrifices so that each of us could pursue a professional career.

Writing this book has been a long and often bittersweet journey, made more difficult after my parents passed away, nine months apart, in April 2018 and January 2019. Wherever you are, Papa and Mama, I love you deeply and remain endlessly grateful for the gift of life and the journey we shared—with all its challenges and joyful moments.