This book is the story of my life, a lady who grew up on a small farm in the Deep South, and how I was able to reach the top of my career field, serving as a two-star general at the Pentagon. Women have served, both in and out of uniform, in defense of this country since the beginning of our nation. Serving the United States Air Force in uniform was my career choice. This book is an outgrowth of the review of publicity surrounding my military career, both active and reserves, and follow-on civilian career, and of the inventory of the more than 100 speeches I gave when I reached the top of my career field. Audiences in the 1980s and 90s were surprised to learn of the original roadblocks, both laws and policies, which precluded me, a woman, from setting goals at the beginning of my military journey in 1960 to reach the level to which I finally achieved during my career in uniform. All I had when in uniform were male mentors, because there were no females to which I could look for guidance and success stories. Indeed, my accomplishments led to the glass ceiling being opened wide for the other ladies who came after me and were recognized for their ability and talents to serve and excel at higher levels of leadership. Friends who know of my accomplishments implored me to put pen to paper to show how I, as a young girl could —with hard work, tenacity, stick-to-it-iveness and using lessons learned in early years —propel myself to the forefront, leading to success. Come with me as I take you back to the beginning, to my first role models: my mother and father who set examples for me and taught me lessons that would propel me even further than a little 1940's farm girl from Oakman, Alabama could have imagined. I hope you'll be inspired to see where my dreams took me, finding love, heartbreak, adventure and prestige along the way.