Wow, DC -- yours is almost profound. My interpretation of your sentence is that he is acknowledging that who he was was greatly shaped by his parents. (I am assuming that the sentence described his travels as a youth, before he ever met Lois.)
Interesting take! I was thinking this might be while he was looking for his soulmate, or maybe just after he met and fell in love with Lois. I love how many different angles it can take!
