SWEET LEMONADE

Preface
The short stories you are about to read are all true. However, the names of my friends,
relatives and business associates have been changed to protect their privacy.
I am neither rich or famous. However, many people who know me will say
that for a common guy, l have lived an exceptionally uncommon life, full of rich experiences
with many unusual twists and turns. I sometimes close my eyes and trace back through the years
of dusty memories and breathe a deep sigh of relief, for any one of the hundreds of choices
I've made, risks I've taken and paths l have traveled, could have easily led me to a very different
life than the one I enjoy today; filled with love, peace, harmony and emotional stability.

Along the many paths I've traveled, I've learned much about life, love, money and survival.
But most of all, I take pride in what I've learned about people and relationships.
You could say that Sweet Lemonade is the result of my reflections on all those
experiences that pushed, prodded and molded my life into its present shape. Of course you
the reader may ask, "Why should I give two cents about your life and experiences?" My
response quite simply is: There are lessons to be learned from every life.

The reader should understand that throughout my youth my mother and father frequently used old adages as a simple way to teach me and my sisters the lessons of life they thought
we needed to survive. Now, as a writer I am keenly aware that today these old proverbs are
generally considered trite and passe. Nevertheless, I have taken literary license throughout
the text of Sweet Lemonade and used many of these old adages. I hope they will give the
reader a clearer understanding of the ideas, thoughts and emotions I am attempting to convey.