From the Back Cover You must know that there is nothing higher and stronger and more wholesome and good for life in the future than some good memory, especially a memory of childhood, of home. People talk to you a great deal about your education, but some good, sacred memory, preserved from childhood, is perhaps the best education. If one carries many such memories into life, one is safe to the end of one's days, and if one has only one good memory left in one's heart, even that may be the means of saving us.—Spoken by the character Alyosha,Dostoevsky's The Brothers KaramazovThese words, printed on a yellowing sliver of paper, are tacked haphazardly on my bulletin board—a tiny shred given to me fifteen years ago by a mentor and friend, Irene Impellizzeri, then vice president of the New York City Board of Education, for whom I worked. Such a small offering, which I now see for its true meaning and the knowledge Irene was attempting to impart.—Theresa Cerrigone, authorSurely Theres Cerrigone will be safe to the end of her days, for the memories she shares in The Silver Thread are vivid, varied, rich in detail, and full of life and love. Her engaging style of writing and tender insights will pull you into the fabric of this true, heartbreaking, uplifting, and compelling tale—a tale of love and loss, of lives well lived, of choices made and connections forged. You may find your own memories or dreams entwining with those of ordinary, extraordinary George and Terri, as you journey with the Cerrigones through this delightful and emotional memoir.—Carol Renzelman, editor About the Author Theresa Cerrigone, "Terri," lives in Flushing, New York with four cats and a few regular strays who gather at the garage; she feeds them each and every morning and night. This gathering of stray cats — who have all been spayed or neutered at Terri's expense — has taken place at the garage for the past forty years, a ritual established all those years ago by Terri's husband, George. A lover of animals, Terri dreams of the day she can once more invite a dog — an older one, like Terri herself — to share her life.  Terri attends memoir-writing workshops regularly and revels in the company of growing grandchildren and a close circle of friends. She is contemplating her upcoming trip to Alaska, and she is in the midst of her goal of completing individual trips with each of her grandchildren. Terri and Zack visited Ruth in California when Zack was just fifteen, exploring exciting Tinseltown together. Terri took Alyssa and Danielle (then fourteen and twelve) on a fantastic train trip to Niagara Falls. She is currently planning an exciting trip with Luke — at ten going on eleven, he is eager to travel to exotic places. And of course, when nine-year-old granddaughter Alexandra is a little older, it will be her turn to take a memorable journey with her grandmother. Terri is not contemplating moving from the beloved home she shared with George any time soon.  At seventy-three, Terri feels that her life is good. She is planning her next book, which will be about the pets that Terri has known, and the importance of spaying and neutering both dogs and cats, and the protection of all our four-legged furry friends.