There were eighty-four men aboard the Ocean Ranger when it sank. Of these, sixty-nine were Canadians and fifteen were Americans. Of the sixty-nine Canadians, fifty-six were from Newfoundland, five from Alberta, four from Ontario, three from Nova Scotia and one from Québec. Not a single one was rescued.

In the following pages I want to take you on a journey—my life’s journey, and in many ways our journey. My goal for this book is for you, the reader, to be encouraged by our own collective strength, determination and humor, in order to overcome the obstacles we may have to facealong life’s path.