You only get one mother, and journalist Anderson Cooper's was a dilly: Gloria Vanderbilt, the fabled "poor little rich girl," who parlayed her reputation as a wealthy, much-married socialite into a career as an artist, author, and fashion designer. After she suffered a brief but serious illness at the age of 91, the pair committed to a year-long correspondence of surprising honesty and depth. Their distinctive personalities shine through here—Anderson's journalistic outlook on the world offering sharp contrast to Gloria's idealism and unwavering optimism—as they discuss their lives, the things that matter to them, and what they still want to learn about each other.