I Believe in Guardian Angels

Ninety-two-year-old Virginia Merrill tells hertroubled but triumphant true story of growingup in early-twentieth-century Los Angeles inthis absorbing memoir <I>I Believe in GuardianAngels</I>.<P>Virginia was born in 1915 and spent herchildhood moving from place to place-one-roomhouses boarding homes and tinyapartments-with her mother and olderbrother. Her mother's teaching jobs tookthem from public to private schools andVirginia soon learned the emotional dangerand vulnerability in forming close relationships.The lack of intimate friends and a permanenthome only contributed to Virginia's fragilestability.<P>Despite her challenges Virginia learned toexcel at school and found a joyful release inwriting short stories and poetry. She alsodiscovered her guardian angels in the peoplearound her. From the doctor who saved herlife during the flu epidemic when she wasonly two years old to her third grade teacherwho devoted herself to helping Virginia learnher fractions these angels made a lastingimpact on Virginia's heart.<P><I>I Believe in Guardian Angels</I> reveals how Virginialearned to treasure each sunlit morningappreciate every gesture of kindness and lovelife in all its tainted glory.