I Guess I Just Wasn’t Thinking Part One: Instead of Skipping Stones is a harmless, highly entertaining narrative; a MOST unlikely prelude to Roger’s wildly outlandish and duplicit activities to follow in Parts 2, 3, &4! It is a collection of innocent and endearing admissions; a fresh and confidentially narrated pre-teen to adult memoir. The reader will be caught up in a succession of progressively more consequential seminal scenarios. He or she will find themselves smiling or wincing at Roger’s adolescent doubts, conclusions, and best-guess responses; up to and including his almost happenstance choice of a life’s work.

 You will revel at the surprisingly few bits of information—even myths, that a youth of the “Fifties” relied on to make important decisions; see poignantly demonstrated the hard (yea lifelong!) permanency of what were thought to be mere short term choices, and marvel at the key role random occurrences can play in the course our lives will take.  As the reader you will be unable to resist the bonding, as it is obvious Roger trusts you, is willing to confide in you and share with you his innermost hopes and fears; even seek your approval. You will go away with an increased level of comfort with your own youthful assumptions.  Here he is not yet aware there is some curse awaiting him. Only in the final chapters may the reader get a glimpse of the shortcoming that will unknowingly be the reason for his repeated zealous and all too-risky, future undertakings.

In sharing with you his youthful aspirations, efforts, understandings, and misgivings, Roger’s hope is to gain some credibility and maybe even a bit of affection, before later disappointing you with a surprising string of selfish, inconsiderate, and often—illegal, activities.