Embarking on a Voyage of Discovery

Dr. Ray Vander Weele embarks on a voyage of discovery and celebrates life's joys, challenges, and unexpected turns in this memoir.

Personal Loss and New Beginnings

He shares the grief of losing a child and the anguish of saying goodbye to a wife claimed by Alzheimer’s as well as the thrill of opening himself up to a new love and a new beginning later in life.

Reflections on Life's Challenges

He writes about the awkwardness of adolescence, living through the Great Depression, World War II, the Korean War, and Vietnam; and surviving scarlet fever, heart surgery, and cancer. He also reflects on how avoiding polio and COVID-19 helped create a new appreciation for life.

Overcoming Obstacles

Some of what he recalls were mountains: obstacles that, in retrospect, it is hard to believe he overcame. Other challenges were boulders or even pebbles, although it was not always clear at the time which was which.

Looking Forward

Join the author as he takes stock of the past and prompts you to examine how you’ve lived your life and what you might do to enhance the time you have left.