At a family gathering I was spinning a family history yarn. It was about 2002 in Snyder, Texas. We were at my sister Charlene's house. John Charles (J. C.) Davis, my nephew, raised the question: "Is anyone writing this down?" I do not recollect the story I had told, or how truthful or interesting it might have been.

In time I decided to do just that. Over the next few years, I began to write down various memories of mine that I thought were interesting, amusing, or important from a family history perspective. Ultimately, these writings became rather lengthy, at least for me.

I decided to organize these recollections. One of my requirements was to present my comments unembellished. My inclination was of course to exaggerate at every opportunity. Only one or two, or maybe … of the stories is a fabrication based on real events. It is your problem to determine which part(s) is scandalous fiction.

I am not a wordsmith! I am a truth merchant within the context of my chosen profession. My training is as a mathematician. A mathematician's goal in writing mathematics is to first be logically correct above all else. Second, the writing should be clear and understandable. Third, the product should be concise. Early in my career, I heard the mathematician and computer scientist Richard V. Andree of the University of Oklahoma say that his test for mathematical legitimacy was simply that the subject at hand should be interesting to him. I have basically adopted this rule as my own. I think that it is a good rule. Lastly, the work should be beautiful.

Usually only other mathematicians really appreciate my last comment. Through the years, I have enjoyed pulling the chains of the arts and the humanities types by describing works of mathematics as beautiful. They usually indicate that I may have a limited and strange view of art. That may be true, though this viewer sees much beauty in mathematics.