It is pre World War II and the young couple, Elly and Joe have begun their lives in Holland. Their first born Herman narrates his story of his life lived in security and then in war when the family relocated to Jena in Thuringia, Germany. Herman's life is a normal one in abnormal times made so by the tenacious and patient efforts of his parents. An escape from Soviet occupied Germany to the west was followed by emigration to the United States. His siblings have urged each other to write down their own remembrances of these Early Years.