"Tumbleweed" records events I experienced as a young girl in Germany living first under the Communist regime, then within the "economic miracle" of West Germany, and finally my years as an immigrant and military spouse in the United States. This is my story about people who live under extreme circumstances, people who conquer the fear of taking risks. The story is about being a refugee from East Germany trying to fit in and be accepted by fellow Germans on the other side of the iron curtain. The story is about an immigrant who despite a lack of English language skills learns the language then competes in the workplace and overcomes obstacles to career advancement in the world's most wonderful country. My story is about a young woman who encounters a life threatening disease and how she became a survivor.