Acknowledgements

My book with 100 paintings took four and a half years to complete, from the autumn of 2009 to the spring of 2014. Before completion, three exhibitions were held: one at MIT with 21 paintings in 2010 and two at Cambridge Citywide Senior Center, one with 21 paintings in 2009, and the other with 42 paintings in 2012. I would like to thank Nancye Mims, program director of the Emma Rogers Society. She contacted the MIT chaplain, Dr. Robert Randolph, to have the exhibit held at the MIT Religious Activities Center in 2010. She will also arrange the final exhibit of the 100 paintings at MIT. The exhibits at the Cambridge Citywide Senior Center depended on the help of many people, including Sally De Fazio, the instructor of my watercolor class, and my classmates; Arline McGrady, the activities and volunteer coordinator; and the Center staff. For broadening my painting approach, I thank my art teacher at School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Heidi Whitman, and my art teachers at the Cambridge Center for Adult Education, Sheila Rice, Cristina Hajosy, and Elizabeth Geissler. I would also like to thank the art group, 9 Colors, formed by me and my classmates. Some of them reviewed my paintings and captions during our group exhibit at the Art, Mind and Body Studio in Cambridge; I especially want to thank Bonnie Sloan, a professional editor, who made corrections to my captions and valuable comments on my paintings. I received a great deal of editing help regarding my captions in both English and Chinese. Many college classmates edited my manuscript during and after our college reunion in 2013. At the same time, Leon’s classmate and old friend from Taipei Technical Vocational School, Henry Shiang, and his wife, Debby, went over my manuscript with enthusiasm. Leon’s colleague and friend at Old Dominium University, Dr. Stewart Shen, edited and verified those activities taking place while we were in Norfolk, Virginia. My watercolor class teacher Sally De Fazio and her online friends faithfully reviewed my captions right from the beginning. My MIT classmates, Libby Blank and Ron Saroff, did editing at the final stage. My longtime neighbor and best friend in the PIER condominium of Norfolk, Virginia, Ellen VanOs—in her 90s—diligently reviewed my manuscript upon the completion of my project. My children and grandchildren also helped during the 4th of July, 2014, family reunion weekend. Our whole family is grateful to our alma mater, MIT, and to Ellen Faran, the director of the MIT Press, for providing the publishing services to make this book available to all interested readers. I also want to thank managing editor Michael Sims for his careful attention to detail, for his personal attention, and for bringing his own experience in Taiwan to bear in editing the manuscript. Finally I thank my brother, Li Tien, who patiently edited my captions and commented on my paintings. My sister, Grace Pan, made a brief review of my paintings. Most of all, I thank my children and grandchildren for enriching my life journey.