My inspiration for the name of this memoir is derived from the superstitious wives tale about cats having nine lives. The notion of that myth, while the origin is unknown to me, seemed to be a fitting title line. In the course of a 26 year career as an Air Force Pilot, there were the usual sorts of in-flight emergencies and associated difficulties. Yet there were still other life or death situations wherein it seemed things were entirely out of my control; it was if I was merely along for the ride as a spectator. Those events constitute the eight very distinct occasions wherein, but for the Grace of God and Divine Intervention, I believe it is most doubtful that I would still be around to author the memoirs embodied in this autobiography.