“Everyone, as they grow older, whether they admit it or not, starts to reflect back on their life. Three pages of single-spaced typing I had written for my children, or perhaps for myself, is how this all started."
So begins a narrative that traces the path of a military brat who would grow up to be tapped for a position as an agency operative in addition to growing his skills in architecture, real estate, and more. After growing up in close proximity to the unfolding events of the Cold War, Williamson found himself operating on behalf of a clandestine agency while managing a growing career, a growing family, and aging parents.
The tale is woven in a way that is reminiscent of catching up with an old friend, the types of tales one might get one or two at a time over the course of years of dinner parties, social gatherings, and after hours cocktails. Pieced together in this fashion, the reader feels as though they’re listening to a friend or family member recounting life lessons and major world events with equal importance. Some tales will certainly leave readers wanting more, though with the variety of topics, that list of tales may vary from one reader to the next - the hubris of youth, sibling rivalries, clandestine missions, and the love of a family.
Altogether, this book tells the tale of a life well lived, circulating among people who cast long shadows (and casting a few himself) while living, loving, and mourning as time marches steadily onward for Williamson and those he knew and loved.