Heart's unique voice is heard - just listen

This story is based on factual events and is the piece of the author's memoir that captures the preponderance of her life's journey. The events impacted by her aging parents' challenges prompted reviewing her memories of the family's epic history, including their immigration to the United States. In the process, she dared the truth by looking at what really was in "her heart". The story weaves in and out of more recent, heartrending events such as the loss of her beloved father and her mother's progressive dementia, as they elicit memories about World War II events, the family's refugee experience, and "coming to America". Sprinkled throughout the story, she describes the personal pain of a failed marriage, the loss of a son, and a failed career. Outweighing life's painful moments, the delights of her rich and joyful family life are her fortress. The self-discovery of the kind of soul-searching it takes in order to move on in life resonates unmistakably.

Ursula Hanks was born in Sagan, Germany in 1943. After fleeing to Bavaria in 1945 with her mother and sister and re-uniting with her father, she lived in Northern Germany and immigrated to San Francisco in 1955. In 1964 she moved to Marin County where she raised her family and furthered her education. She currently resides and works in Marin with her wonderful husband, her awesome best friend of 27 years.