When I was five my father told me to read "How to Win Friends and Influence People" by Dale Carnagie. Seventy years later I still remember the title. That's all. Not the book.

Titles are important. Can we tell our story in a few words

This is a participatory book. You can read the words outloud. You can stop and think about a few words. You can talk to me and I may answer you on the next page. There may be blank pages where you can doodle. Maybe a page to smell (roses) or eat (raspberry or watermelon)

Juggling is a talent. It is a creative and inventive Art. You can juggle many objects at the same time. Always something new. All it takes is throwing it up into the air. Catching the items is another matter. My story is not about catching. It is about inventing new things to throw up into the air.

Words that are spoken are like objects thrown into the air. You throw them so that someone can catch them. Picture two jugglers throwing clubs back and forth. So I am juggling with you. I throw you words and ideas.

As a kid I played catch with my father. In the beginning I was not very good. I dropped the ball and threw it back twenty feet from my father. I tried tennis once and could never hit back. I was good at hitting but not at hitting back.

When I got out of the army I returned to Chicago. I created a show called "His and Hers, the battle of the sexes. It was for two performers, me and a crazy girl. On the stage were two podiums with towel racks on the front. (His and Hers), the material was scenes from The Fourposter, Taming of the Shrew, and my own stories of a first date, twenty years later, and some poetry. I had toured the show in the army, playing in fairs and colleges in Kansas and Mo. When I got back to Chicago I found a perfect partner. Attractive and very funny. I got us a showcase at the Playboy Club, Saturday night at midnight. Friends and family showed up to support us. It was a small nightclub that sat about fifty at twenty tables. The ceiling was low and as we started our act the lights were in our eyes. Before we went on I had a surprise for my partner. I told her when we did the first routine about going on a first date I would juggle. She thought this was a terrible idea and I reminded her who was the boss. The first minute we got laughs without the juggling from friends and family. Then I threw my balls up into the air and they disappeared in the stage lights. The next I knew the three heavy rubber juggling balls came down in three different parts of the room, hitting tables, knocking over glasses and bouncing on to other tables. The audience laughed thinking it was part of the show. My partner didn't. She went crying off stage. I stood there watching the balls bounce and bounce and bounce and I didn't say a word. I was speechless. And then I ran off the stage. A minute later my mother came bouncing into the dressing room and said: "Get out of show business."

When I was in fifth grade at O'keeffe School, on the south side of Chicago, Our teacher gave us a class on the first thanksgiving. I raised my hand. Can I make a play about this? I asked. The teacher was thrilled and asked" When do you want to do it, maybe next week?" "No, now.", I said. I told her to turn the class over to me. And she said "go ahead"" I went to the first row and made everyone pilgrims. With families and jobs of all ages. The second row I made Indians. With families and jobs of all ages. The third row I made them into the media. Reporters and interviewers. Their job was to interview as many of the pilgrims and Indians that they can.

The room exploded with everyone happy to participate. The teacher stood there with her mouth open.

I am 75 and living in the north east of China, Changchun in the province of Jilin. I have been here for five years. I continue to throw my balls up in the air and some people may or may not catch them.