Beyond the Terrazzo Veranda is more than a love story. Although a memoir, it traces how society changes over a lifetime. Our essence is due to many factors--some within our control--but many contingent on others' plans. Sometimes what happens before our birth impacts our personalities. My mother seeing my sister killed by a speeding truck from the veranda of our house affected my family and destroyed my mother. People mature and my evolution from a whining boy into a macho man and then a scholar was a slow and painful process. Others see us differently while struggling to know our talents and weaknesses. This story leads the reader from my early defiance, my success in sports, love of literature and lifelong passion for people into some unpredictable and dangerous situations. It also deals with prejudice, ignorance and sexism that I witnessed as a victim, a bystander and perpetrator. Having no single career, I am fortunate that working in business, earning a doctorate, teaching and being an actor allowed me to interact with people in different contexts. Sadly, nothing lasts and friendships, trysts and choices end. Living needs empathy for neighbors, ourselves, and the strangers we will meet.