From the streets of Fargo, North Dakota to the markets of Algiers (but mostly closer to home) Rebecca Lukens has lived a long life enriched by education, teaching, writing, and maybe most of all by family. In a wry, witty, and engaging voice she presents bright snapshots of herself, her parents and siblings, her four children, and her grandchildren. Her vignettes have a lovely modesty, a full-heartedness, a wonderful sense of humor, and an aliveness to life's possibilities on every page, and together they create a stirring collage that pays close attention to the upheavals and transformations of the 20th century--particularly the changing roles of women. Enthusiastic, alert, and upbeat, IT'S BEEN GREAT! is that rare book that fully earns its exclamation mark.