To Mrs. Ruth Pardon, my high-school math teacher; Dr. Bruce Wavell, head of the Rollins College summer math program; Mrs. Dorothy Schriver, Science Talent Search Program Manager; Drs. James E. Gunn and Martin Rees—who all set me on my way; and to my colleagues in the topology group, who accompanied me on our journey through the cosmic web. Finally, to my new granddaughter Allison—welcome to the universe.