Where did my title come from

I've been a librarian (SSHHH!!), a published author, a composer who's had music performed publicly, and a street musician. Now, I'm a technical writer whose life over the past several years could make a country song or a David Cronenberg movie.

My wife died a little over a year ago, from alcohol and drug abuse, but only after making me and my daughter live with her habit for several years. Along the way, she ran up all kinds of debts from buying pills online, which, along with the economy, has wiped out the better part of my savings.

So now I'm living alone in an ivory tower -- and ivory is more expensive than I can afford. I'm working on trying to get the house ready to sell, but that process is taking awhile and is going to cost me more money. Hopefully, I won't end up with a new career as a nomad.

But I keep thinking my life story would be worth lots of money if I could find to right person to buy it ...