Did I Ever Tell You about My Grandfather?

Book excerpt: Joe's sister was born with a silver spoon in her mouth, but not Joe. Joe's sister was afforded every opportunity, but Joe got only adversity. Joe was routinely abused by his father, but this is not an "oh, pity me" story. Rather, it is the tale of how Joe's maternal grandfather shared his experiences, strength, and certainties that helped Joe learn how to face life's challenges and grow into a strong and successful man. Between these covers are some of the challenges and obstacles that helped give might to Joe's life. As Joe shares this quest and the lessons his grandfather shared with him, you too will have the opportunity to grow and learn how Joe used these very tools to forge a meaningful and valuable life. Often, when Joe shared these lessons, he would honor with gratitude the lessons from his mentor, guardian, and protector by asking, "Did I ever tell you about my grandfather?" For reasons found in this book, a portion of the proceeds from the sale of all Joe Arthur's writings go to the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, the Covenant House, the Native American Rights Fund, The NAACP, the USS Constitution Museum, and the World Wildlife Fund.