Autobiographies are a risky genre, they are about the authors as they perceive their life, partial, biased, subjective, egocentric, selective … All true, inevitable, so? This booklet is not the result of any research, of any consultation of others’ documents, not even of my own. It was written in about ten days spread over three weeks, straight from memory. I wrote it for Grant and Rika, but also for my other siblings Stiny, Hank and Co. My life those nineteen years covered in this story, largely overlapped with theirs and they will recognize nearly all the scenes, events, happenings and anecdotes. They will miss highlights of their own, they will be puzzled by my omissions and perspectives. They will hopefully be stimulated to share their own, different, perspectives and experiences with us.

So I do not apologize for subjective views, or my emotions, joys and regrets. No family history is pretended here, only a personal  account of the early part of a complex journey, traveled and enjoyed over more than seven blessed decades. I share it with siblings, my children and all who take an interest in it. I welcome your critique and hope that reading this will evoke many memories of the rich youth we shared.

Harry van der Laan
Wyk by Duurstede, NL
April 2009