Beyond the Terrazzo Veranda is more than a love story. Although a memoir, it traces how society changes over a lifetime. Our essence is due to many factors--some within our control--but many contingent on others' plans. Sometimes what happens before our birth impacts our personalities. My mother seeing my sister killed by a speeding truck from the veranda of our house affected my family and destroyed my mother. People mature and my evolution from a whining boy into a macho man and then a scholar was a slow and painful process. Others see us differently while struggling to know our talents and weaknesses. This story leads the reader from my early defiance, my success in sports, love of literature and lifelong passion for people into some unpredictable and dangerous situations. It also deals with prejudice, ignorance and sexism that I witnessed as a victim, a bystander and perpetrator. Having no single career, I am fortunate that working in business, earning a doctorate, teaching and being an actor allowed me to interact with people in different contexts. Sadly, nothing lasts and friendships, trysts and choices end. Living needs empathy for neighbors, ourselves, and the strangers we will meet.

Norman Morra was born in Toronto, Canada, January 1, 1945. He attended St. Michael's high school and spent several unproductive but interesting years at Carleton University in Ottawa during the 1960s. After twenty years in business, he received a BA from the University of Toronto and a doctorate in sociology from York University where he published articles on violence in sport and against women. He taught criminology at Barry University in Miami and Lemoyne College in Syracuse NY and then English at Berlitz Canada where he rated international airline pilots' use of English. He has travelled to Japan, Europe and often to the UK. His interests include sport, literature and theatre while acting as a background performer in movies. Sandra and Norman have two adult children and five grandchildren nearby. He enjoys early morning jogs.

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