I live in a two story house on Hillside Lane in Dallas, Texas. I sit at the desk in my second floor office and stare out the picture window onto a beautiful lush, green golf course in our backyard. And I can see into my neighbor's kitchen when they have the blinds open. And I can watch the branches on the huge trees outside dance in the wind, and I can hear the whoosh of the cars speeding down the freeway a mile away. If the music's not up too loud, I can hear my husband when he pulls in the driveway coming home from work. I beat him home most days, since the high school where I teach English is just down the road from our house.

I look around this place with all its peace and its comforts, and I wonder how I got here. Fifteen years ago, I would have never thought a life like this was possible. Fifteen years ago I didn't know if I'd still be living in fifteen years.